ideSHi along with the directorate general of health services and ministry of health and family welfare arranged a dissemination workshop on diagnostic/screening facilities for inborn errors of metabolism and other genetic disorders. The event took place on 30 July 2019 in the conference room of Shastho Bhaban (New DGHS building), Mohakhali. Dr. Md. Shamsul Haque, Line Director, MNC&AH, DGHS, MOHFW presided over the meeting as chairperson, with Prof. Dr. Abul Kalam Azad, DG, DGHS, MOHFW, and Prof. Dr. Mohammod Shahidullah, Chairman, Department of Neonatology, BSMMU attending as chief guest and special guest respectively.
During the meeting, Professor Shahidullah emphasized on diagnosis of genetic disorders and its need for Bangladesh revealing how our healthcare system have been lagging behind when it comes to such diagnosis. Professor Narayan Saha from NINS presented their diagnostic approach to genetic disorders. One of the key speakers of the session, Professor Narayan presented the common challenges faced by neurologists in the diagnosis of inborn errors of metabolism as well as the diagnostic algorithm used to reach the diagnosis of specific metabolic disorders.
Dr. Firdausi Qadri, Chairperson, ideSHi elaborated her ongoing struggle in setting up ideSHi as a research hub and a center for introducing screening of in-born errors of metabolism in Bangladesh using local capacity and expertise.
Another key speaer, Suprovath Kumar Sarker briefed regarding the progress on the availability of inborn errors of metabolism screening at ideSHi including determination of age specific cutoff values for amino acids and acylcarnitines and its publication in a peer reviewed international scientific journal.
