Apeejay Stya & Svrán Group, a leading Indian industrial and investment house, has organised the second edition of the IOG-Dr Stya Paul Awards 2013 at Campus Auditorium in New Delhi. The main aim is to recognise outstanding contributory articles published in the ‘Indian Obstetrics & Gynaecology - Journal for Basic & Clinical Research’.

Addressing the dignitaries and doctors present; Aditya Berlia, member, Management Board of the Apeejay Stya Group said, “According to WHO, 800 women die of pregnancy related complications and child birth everyday, 99 per cent of these deaths occur in developing countries. Majority of these deaths are preventable. India, unfortunately accounts for 19 per cent of all global maternal death and has the highest maternal death rate in the world. It also accounts for 23.6 per cent of global preterm births, with a preterm birth rate of 13 per cent. The contribution of these preterm births to overall prenatal morbidity and mortality is more than 85 per cent.”

Addressing the event, Sushma Berlia, president of Apeejay Stya & Svrán Group, and chancellor, Apeejay Stya University said, “When we talk about overcoming challenges, it is not important just to overcome challenges but to achieve excellence, realising your highest potential and fulfilling your deepest purposes. Today’s awards recognise excellence in research in the pursuit of achieving health and happiness of women and new born.”

Professor Philip J Steer, emeritus professor of obstetrics, Academic Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, Imperial College, London, suggested various ways with which maternal death rates can be curtailed. He said in his special oration lecture, “Using newer medication without checking the results of their clinical trials can be very dangerous. When we use new techniques in medicine, they should be properly evaluated.”

The IOG Dr Stya Paul Awards were presented in three categories: Best Case Report to Dr Manjusha Jindal (and co-authors), assistant professor, Department of Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Goa Medical College; Best Review Article to Dr Prashant Joshi, associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Adichunchagiri Institute of Medical Sciences, Karnataka and Best Original Study to Dr Manidip Pal, associate professor, Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, JNM Hospital, West Bengal.

Berlia also expressed his gratitude on behalf of the Group and said, “I extend a very heartfelt vote of thanks to all of you for gracing the IOG Dr Stya Paul Awards2013 and making the event a grand success.”

The event was followed with the introduction of the IOG Journal by Dr J B Sharma, editor-in-chief, IOG Journal & Additional Professor, Dept. of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, AIIMS, New Delhi. Around 500 eminent obstetricians and gynaecologists from various parts of the country attended the Awards ceremony.