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Dr Humayun Iqbal Khan (Pakistan)
- Oncology & Haematology, HKL - 1997 (Pictured below):
My report as published in Berita MPA April 1998.
The first annual 3-month fellowship in the field of Oncology, Haematology
and Bone Marrow Transplantation was awarded to me by the Malaysian
Paediatric Association (MPA) through the Association of Paediatric
Societies of the Southeast Asia Region (APSSEAR). I had the honour
of doing the attachment at the Oncology and Bone Marrow Transplant
unit at the Institute of Paediatrics, Hospital Kuala Lumpur under
Dr Raja Khuzaiah Abd Razak.
During my attachment I attended rounds in the oncology ward conducted
by the specialist and the consultant of the ward. These helped me
to develop an insight into the day to day problems encountered in
the management of children suffering from cancer. I got introduced
to many new treatment protocols during the course of my stay. I
got the chance to deal with patients independently in the oncology
clinic. This has helped me to gain more confidence in the oncology
follow-up management.
During my attachment 1 learnt how to perform plateletpheresis by
using Cobe Spectra Apheresis System. I also observed removal of
red cells by using the same apparatus. In Pakistan bone marrow aspiration
is done by the paediatric haematologist. 1 got the chance to do
this procedure.
Working in bone marrow transplant unit with Dr Caroline Ho was a
very good experience. I completely followed two patients who were
transplanted allogenic bone marrow during this period. This has
generated my interest in the field of bone marrow transplantation.
I was given the task of completing IBMTR (international Bone Marrow
Transplant Registry) forms of all the patients who underwent allogenic
B M Transplant in the BMT Unit of Institute of Paediatrics, Hospital
Kuala Lumpur. At the beginning it appeared to be a laborious job
but it turned out to be a very useful exercise for me. By going
through the records of all of the transplanted patients I learnt
a great deal about the preparation of a patient for BMT and problems
arising after transplant, their prophylaxis and their management.
During the initial period of my stay, acedemic meetings in the department
were withheld because of Coxsackie epidemic. However during the
later half 1 attended seminars, journal club and other meetings.
Dr Toh Chin Lee's lecture on "Emotional aspect of childhood cancers"
was a very useful talk.
I also attended the second scientific meeting of MASPO at University
Hospital Kuala Lumpur. Prof Guenter Henze, who is a leading paediatric
oncologist from Berlin, Germany delivered lectures on vaious aspect
of management of Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL). He also talked
about bone marrow and blood-cell transplantation in leukemia. These
lectures were very informative and helped to clear my concepts about
treatment of relapse in ALL and CNS prophylaxis in ALL.
The Annual Congress of Malaysian Paediatric Association was held
in the beautiful beach resort of Pantai Cahaya Bulan, Kota Bharu
ion early September. MPA very graciously sponsored my registration
for the congress and my stay in Kota Bharu. The theme of this congress
was "Child Health : Vision 2020". Besides many eminent Malaysian
Paediatricians there were many distinguished foreign speakers as
well. All speakers delivered presentations of high standard. The
presentations which I found most useful and informative were; 'Cord
blood transplantation and banking' by Prof Marcus Vowels, 'Quinolones
in Children'by Prof Heikki Peltotle, 'Food Allergy' by Assoc Prof
Lee Bee Wah, 'Upper Respiratory Infections' by Assoc Prof David
Isaacs, 'Clinical Geneties'byProf Sillence, 'Antibiotic resistance
to Strep pneumoniae' by Profs Klugman and Farida Jamal, 'Bronchial
Astharna'by Prof Landau, Assoc Prof van Asperen and Dr Schuh and
'Paediatric Vaccines' by Prof Balfour, Dr Pines and Dr Hanna.
This fellowship programme is aimed at training of Paediatricians
from Southeast Asia in subspecialities of their interest. For this
puprose the time allocated is too short, hence the fellowship should
be awarded for a period of 9 months to one year. Although Datuk
Dr Sham Kasim and MPA very promptly got my registration and insurance,
1 feel that this should be done before the trainee fellow comes
to the country. A schedule of assignments for the trainee should
be made before the start of the programme and helshe should be informed
before hand.
I want to take this opportunity to thank Datuk Dr M Sham Kasim and
Mrs Kasim. I am especially thankful to Dr Raja Khuzaiah for letting
me work in her department and for being very kind to me. I am greatly
indebted to Dr Caroline Ho for guiding and tutoring me in the BIVIT
unit, teaching me plasmapheresis and in general extending help to
me on numerous occasions during my stay in the Paediatric Institute.
Dr Eni Juraidah also deserves thanks for helping me in the oncology
ward and for being very patient in explaining to me various protocols
used in paediatric malignancies. I am also thankful to Dr Shekher,
Dr Rosna, Sisters Kua and Puteh, rest of the staff of BIVIT unit
and oncology ward, Mr Ahmad Zainal Ariffin and Ms Hanum. In the
end many thanks to MPA and APSSEAR for awarding me this fellowship
and giving me the opportunity to visit Malaysia.
DR HUMAYUN IQBAL KHAN
Pakistan
Ed. Note. Dr. Humayun was the first recipient of the MPA Fellowship
in areas of subspecialisation in Paediatrics. He spent three months
(July to Sept 1997) in Kuala Lumpur.
Other fellows include:
Dr. Sasmito (Indonesia) attachment at IJN (National Heart Institute)
- 2000-2001
Dr. Mahrus Abdul Rahman (Indonesia) attachment at IJN (Natioanl
Heart Institute) 2001-
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