LARKANA: Out of 23 gold medals up for grabs, women mopped up 21 and men could lay hands on only two at the 6th convocation of Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) held at Arija Campus on Saturday where a total of 230 graduates were awarded degrees.

The university`s vice chancellor Prof Dr Nusrat Shah, who presided over the gathering, said the university would soon establish `Health Technology Institute` as the coming era was of health technology.

She said the university focused on research which was lynchpin of a higher seat of learning. `We need health technologists,` she said.

`We have shined in research and therefore we are looking forward to getting funds from all over world to boost research activities. We have provided proper sports facilities to hostlers who generally face mental pressures,` he said.Prof Tehmina Nagraj, VC of Begum Nusrat Bhutto Women University Sukkur and Prof Dr Mohammad Usman Kerio, acting VC of University of Larkano, who were chief guests at the convocation said that only the students who sacrificed their sleep today for a better tomorrow would clinch success in future.

They congratulated parents, teachers and students and said that it was a day of students and their parents as the convocation was actually the first step towards beginning of practical life.

Prof Wazir Mohammad Shaikh Memorial Award in Medicine was awarded to Dr Erum of Chandka Medical College, Prof Noor Ahmed Baloch Memorial Award in Surgery was awarded to Dr Sana Anwar of CMC, Prof Ghulam Rasool Qureshi Memorial Award in Pathology was given to Adnan Mahar of Ghulam Mohammed Mahar Medical College Sukkur and Prof Dr Ali Akbar Siyal Memorial Award for best researcher was conferred on Urooj Fatima of Institute of Pharmacy.