World University Celebrates International Women’s Day 

World University Celebrates International Women’s Day

Sri Guru Granth Sahib World University, Fatehgarh Sahib organises various events to celebrate International Women’s Day. The Department of Physiotherapy organized a webinar on “Cancers in Women:  Prevention, Identification and Management”. Prof. Ajaib Singh Brar, Pro Chancellor of the University was the Chief Patron for the webinar. The webinar was presided over by the honourable Vice chancellor of the University, Prof (Dr.) Pritpal Singh and graced by the presence of Prof (Dr.) S.S Billing, Dean Academic Affairs, Dr. Preet Kaur, Dean Students’ Welfare, and Prof (Dr.) C. Rajesh, Dean Faculty of Medical Sciences.  Dr Kanika Sharma, Associate Consultant Medical and Haemato Oncologist at Max Super speciality Hospital, Mohali was the resource person for the webinar. The webinar was moderated by Dr Supreet Bindra (Assistant Professor, Physiotherapy). Dr. Preet Kaur formally welcomed all the dignitaries, resource person and the attendees to the webinar. She deliberated on the historical relevance of

International Women’s Day. She also showed her concern over how the rising growth of cancer cases in the last decade has become a major public health concern for the growing nation.

Dr Kanika Sharma whose areas of interest are breast and lung cancer, ovarian cancer, cancer of the prostate and gall bladder, lymphomas and bone tumour, highlighted that 2.5 million of people are living with the disease and every year around 12 lakh new people get afflicted with cancer whereas close to 8 lakh people lose their lives. The Risk of developing cancer before 75 years of age is 9.81% in males and 9.42% in females. The top five cancers in men and women account for 47.2% of all cancers; these cancers can be prevented screened for and/or detected early and treated at an early stage and this could significantly reduce the death rate from these cancers. Cancer of the breast, lip/oral, cervix are the commonest cancers in women. Dr Sharma emphasized that most cancers are preventable. She said it’s unfortunate that women in India die more from cervical cancer (25% of total deaths worldwide) than in any other country. That is because most women in India are not aware about the screening. Screening for cervical cancer involves getting a PAP smear done every 3 years for a  woman aged 21-30 years and a combination of PAP and HPV testing every 5 years while endometrial cancer which is the third commonest tumour of genital tract can be screened with pelvic ultrasound and endometrial aspirate. Screening of Ovarian cancer which is 4th common cause of cancer mortality involves testing Serum CA 125 and transvaginal ultrasonogram. The clinical and self-breast examination and mammography remain the main screening tests for breast cancer. Dr Pankajpreet Singh, Incharge, Department of Physiotherapy presented a  vote of thanks to all the dignitaries, Dr. Kanika, fellow faculty members and all the participants for their valuable presence and precious time for successful organization of the webinar and added that the department will continue  organizing such webinars on awareness of cancer from time to time.

The NSS wing of  the University also organised various event to celebrate International Women’s Day. The theme of the event was “Women in Leadership: Achieving an Equal Future in a COVID-19 World,”. The events were organised to celebrate  the tremendous efforts by women and girls around the world in shaping a more equal future and recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic and to highlight the gaps that remain. Dr Harneet Billing, programme coordinator NSS informed that various competions were organised to instill the sense of gratitude towards women. The sub theme for PowerPoint competition was ‘ Transcending the Journey of a Women from being a Homemaker to an Enterpreneur ’. Navjot Kaur (B.Sc-B.Ed batch 2019), Mankirat Singh (B.A.- B.Ed Batch 2019) and Mandeep Kaur (M.B.A.) were declared the winners. A creative thank you video competition was also organised. Video of Simranjeet Kaur from Department of Commerce and Management was adjudged the best. She thanked the women for emerging from hardships of life and being inspiration to many. To provide a channel to the creative skills of students, a Poster Making Competition on the theme ‘Breaking the Bias’ was organised. Poonam Bharti (zoology), Kirandeep Kaur (Education) and, Navdeep Kaur (Zoology)and Sandeep Kaur (Chemistry) stood first, second and third respectively.

An invited talk was presented by Prof (Dr.) Sukhbir Kaur, Professor, Department of Zoology and Former Dean, Panjab University, Chandigarh. By citing her own life journey and taking examples form society, she discussed the different phases of the life of a women. She motivated the girls to face the world with determination and emerge as an example for others. She also urged the girls to serve the down trodden.

Addressing the students, Dean Academic Affairs Prof (Dr.) Sukhwinder Singh Billing said that the true essence of education lies in working for equality and respecting others. There is a need of giving a dignified life to women. Prof (Dr.) Pritpal Singh , the Vice Chancellor of the University congratulated the NSS wing of the university and Physiotherapy Department for their efforts and made all volunteers pledge that they will always upheld the values of equality.