Ms NOVEMBER 16, 2014
ISSUE NO. 126
Dressing up for winter weddings
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Pap Smear: The LifeSaving Test
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Section In-Charge: Sarah Munir Sub-Editors: Amna Hashmi Nisma Chauhan Feedback: women@tribune.com.pk
inside lifestyle —
How to groom your social media presence
domestic goddess —
Chicken Vindaloo
8 page
The Vibrant Areeba Habib
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Ms
the buzz
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
One quick check-up can save you from a lifetime of cervical problems
by Rahat Kamal
When Mahrukh Ali*, a 30-year-old mother of three recently visited her gynaecologist for a post-delivery check-up, she was positive that she already knew all primary healthcare measures the doctors would prescribe. But when the gynaecologist mentioned Mahrukh needed a pap smear as part of the hospital’s post-operation protocol, Mahrukh was left bewildered. “I actually felt quite sheepish because even after undergoing three C-sections, I had no idea what a pap smear was,” admits Mahrukh. “Due to my ignorance, I had missed out on such an important precautionary measure that is necessary for women’s health!” Unfortunately, Mahrukh is but one example of thousands of women — in Pakistan and around the world — who remain oblivious to the pap smear. Medically known as the Papanicolaou test, a pap smear is used to examine the female cervix for the incidence of cervical cancer. The procedure samples cervical cells and checks them for any abnormalities indicative of cancer or pre-cancerous conditions. Introduced in the 1940s — a time during which cervical cancer was one of the leading causes of female deaths — pap smears have been adopted globally as the standard screening test for women, particularly after they give birth. Although medical advancements have improved the options available to those suffering from cervical cancer, the disease remains a growing concern, accounting for about 12% of all cancer cases internationally. The situation is even bleaker here in Pakistan where almost 20 women fall victim to cervical cancer daily, making it one of the top 10 countries with the highest female mortality rates (due to cancer). According to a recent research conducted by Globocan, a project initiated by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for cancer research, the prevalence of cervical cancer has risen from nine out of every 100,000 women in 2002 to 19.5 in 2008. For a cancer type that is easily avertable, these numbers are deplorable. Experts cite the lack of pap smears as one of the main reasons for this as the test is widely available in Pakistan but rarely used. “Even though I know how important it is, I haven’t been able to take out time from my daily routine and have myself checked,”
says homemaker Saba Karim*. “Between family and home, it gets very difficult to do anything else. I guess this is a social problem Pakistani women face — they aren’t too proactive about their health.” Stressing upon the importance of a pap smear, Dr Para Butt, a gynaecologist at the Royal Institute of Medicine (RIMS) suggests that a woman should have herself tested immediately after she becomes sexually active and follow it up with a screening every three to five years. “Amongst the first few basic questions I ask new patients is whether they have had a pap smear and most of them don’t even know what it is,” shares Dr Butt. “WHO has made it mandatory for women to get tested every three years but convincing them to go for it is a gargantuan task!” Dr Butt attributes this to lack of awareness and understanding of the process, along with a reluctance to spend on a screening when there haven’t been any symptoms.
Almost 20 women fall victim to cervical cancer daily in Pakistan, rendering it one of the top 10 countries with the highest female mortality rates (due to cancer) Fortunately, the procedure isn’t too lengthy or painful, contrary to popular belief. “I was very anxious when my doctor prescribed a pap smear to me but the test wasn’t as uncomfortable as I thought. There was also no pain at all,” says Rehana Danish* who has herself tested regularly in order to keep tabs on her health. While explaining the process, Dr Butt elucidates that the patient is made to lie down comfortably while the doctor visualises their cervix and scrapes some cells off the uterus using a soft spatula. The cells are then placed on a glass slide which is sent to the lab for testing. The entire process lasts roughly five minutes, minus the waiting time for the test results. Other than detecting cervical cancer before it pap
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THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
Did You Know?
Rs 700 to Rs 1,500 is the cost of a pap smear test per sitting, available at almost all leading hospitals throughout Pakistan.
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For women who haven’t had children or wish to have more children, a timely pap smear can make sure cervical cancer is eliminated at the right time and through minimally invasive measures Gynaecologist Dr Zeenat Eva Khan
smears also ensure that any potential cancers are treated without the patient needing a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). “For women who haven’t had children or wish to have more children, a timely pap smear can make sure cervical cancer is eliminated at the right time and through minimally invasive measures,” explains Dr Zeenat Eva Khan, a gynaecologist at the National Medical Centre. Dr Khan goes on to admonish Pakistani women for not visiting doctors regularly for general health checkups and turning to them only when the matter gets out of hand. Of course, understanding the need for a pap smear will only come once there is a comprehension of cervical cancer itself. Generally, the disease is caused due to a sexually-transmitted virus called Human Pappilomavirus (HPV) which can lie dormant for upto 25 years once a woman has been infected without exhibiting any symptoms of infection. According to Dr Khan, “The symptoms begin to manifest themselves as the patient’s immunity weakens by which time it is often too late for a full recovery.” During the past eight years, two vaccines called Cervarix and Gerdasil have been administered globally to help prevent the spread of HPV. Nonetheless, Dr Butt advises that girls should have themselves tested or vaccinated just before they get married to prevent any problems in the future. Since 2006, both vaccines have been licensed to over a 100 countries and included in the national immunisation plans for at least 40 countries in 2012, including Canada, Australia, the United States and United Kingdom as well. Awareness regarding the vaccine has spread to Pakistan
but there still remains a long way to go before it is included in regular medical practice. Although still unsatisfactory, Dr Khan feels that Pakistani doctors and women have taken a big leap forward and adopted the vaccine into their practices. Every one to two patients visiting Dr Khan’s clinic are now vaccinated against HPV and Dr Khan continues to encourage them to get regular pap smears once they are sexually active. “This way, women can save themselves and their families from exuberant treatment costs, excruciating pain and worst of all, a great deal of mental trauma.” *Names have been changed to protect privacy.
Some common symptoms of HPV The HPV virus lives in mucous membranes, such as those in the genital area or on the skin. Keep your eyes open for the following symptoms and consult a doctor should you have any. • Raised, flat, pink or flesh-coloured lumps around the genitalia. • Common lumps may appear elsewhere on the body. These may be rough, raised bumps that usually occur on the hands, fingers or elbows. They may also be painful or prone to injury or bleeding. • Plantar lumps can occur as a result of HPV, usually on the heels or balls of your feet. They lumps are hard, grainy growths that cause discomfort or pain. • Flat lumps caused by HPV generally grow on your face, neck or on areas that have been scratched. They are flat-topped, slightly raised lesions darker than your regular skin colour. SOURCE: MAYOCLINIC.ORG
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Ms
en vogue
Hira Shah’s latest collection showcases traditional embellishments on chiffon and net. Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair & Makeup: Saba Ansari at Sab’s Label: Hira Shah Couture Designer: Hira Shah Photography: Jaffar Hassan Model: Hira
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
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The lady in Red by Kuki Concepts showcases traditional red bridal dresses with perfectly detailed work. Coordination: Umer Mushtaq Hair & Makeup: Hassam Khan Designer: Kuki Concepts Photography: Alee’ Hassan Model: Emily
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lifestyle
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
By Ayesha Akif Design: Talha Khan In today’s tech-savvy world, avoiding social media isn’t just difficult — it’s virtually impossible. We are all well aware of how social media websites like Facebook and Instagram have changed our social interactions forever. As a generation of oversharers, we document our daily lives via pictures and status updates on these media portals. Breaking news reaches Twitter faster than the speed of light. And with Smartphone apps like Snapchat being the new cool thing, it’s no wonder that the officials at Oxford Dictionaries made ‘selfie’ the Word of the Year for 2013. Unfortunately, in the fervour of publicising our experiences online, we often forget that everything we display or say online is permanent. Deleted tweets can be retrieved, pictures once uploaded but taken down remain lost somewhere in cyberspace and worst of all, glimpses of our personal lives — including telephone numbers and residence addresses — are often open to public. Considering this, it’s hardly surprising that organisations across the world have started to screen potential employees by looking at their online presence. According to a survey conducted by online recruitment giant Jobvite in 2012, nearly 92% of recruiters in America now actively participate in ‘social recruiting,’ i.e. searching for talent over social networking websites. The phenomenon may not be as common in Pakistan yet and many like Samia Zuberi, an HR professional might even oppose the idea. “Frankly, I don’t think there is much to be gained from viewing peoples’ personal lives and activities on social media,” she says, calling it an invasion of privacy. “Employers are looking for specific job skills and general competence. These are not related to any applicant’s personal life!” Nonetheless, Jobvite also revealed that recruiters thoroughly scrutinise an applicant’s online activity, noting that more than half of them would have an unfavourable reaction to spelling or grammar mistakes in the social profile. Pictures, comments, ‘likes’ and group memberships we innocently share might end up depicting us differently from what we would like potential employers to think of us and hence, cause serious impediments in our professional growth. “I think surveying an applicant’s online presence tells much more about them than a regular health and credit history ever can,” says fresh HR graduate Muneeza Maqbool. “Even the way one types online speaks volumes about them and employers have the right to know who they are letting in. This is even more important in Western firms where company image and corporate mission statements are of great importance!”
Clean up your social media with SimpleWash! Do you want to conceal all inappropriate activity from your internet profiles but feel too lazy to do it? Use SimpleWash! Formerly known as FaceWash, SimpleWash is an online app that clears your social media accounts (Facebook and Twitter, in particular) of posts and pictures that could be misinterpreted by recruiters, hindering your dreams of working at a well-reputed organisation. The clearing process even covers items shared years ago, saving you from the trouble of having to go through old posts. Simply download the app to your device, add in a few keywords, topics and tags for what you want removed and let SimpleWash do all the scrubbing for you.
Look smart on LinkedIn! The purpose of LinkedIn is to help potential employees get noticed by potential employers, providing a platform for them to connect. As it is strictly professional, your LinkedIn profile must be crisp, organised, relevant and error-free. Be sure to pick a profile picture that is professional and shows you at your best formal self. The best part about LinkedIn is that it allows you to showcase your skills and achievements to others. Recruiters make their first judgement call based on how well information is presented. Therefore, it is imperative that you read whatever you upload multiple times to ensure there are no mistakes. LinkedIn also allows users to share examples of their work, such as research papers or articles, etc which are futile if not organised and relevant. To spark the interest of recruiters, your work experiences and samples should be listed chronologically and preceded by a brief background to help the reader understand better. Filter out all samples which are not relevant to the career field you have chosen as recruiters are unlikely to read unnecessarily long resumes. Be careful whatever you say online. In a recent interview with CNN, LinkedIn spokesperson Lindsey Pollak said, “Remove complaints about your job or boss, any confidential information and photos of yourself acting in a way that could be constructed as inappropriate.” Remember you want to be an asset to the company — not someone they could be embarrassed by in the future.
Did You Know?
75% of recruiters are now required by their companies to do an online background check for their candidates online. SOURCE: THE NEW YORK TIMES
Clean up your act! The survey conducted by Jobvite listed LinkedIn as the most preferred social networking forum for online recruitment, followed closely by Facebook and then Twitter. While the former is meant for this very purpose, the other two are much more personal and therefore, need to be maintained lest an employer be reviewing them. • Privacy settings: You might not agree with the idea of social recruitment and wish to keep your personal and professional profiles separate but you can’t stop recruiters from peeping in. In such a situation, it is best if you utilise the privacy tools available on most social networking sites and hide your uploads from strangers and even specific people. • Re-evaluate your contacts: A man is as good as the company he keeps. Employers are likely to examine your online contacts to get a better understanding about your personal life. Therefore, it is advisable for you filter out your list of contacts that might ruin your virtual image, such as those with quirky pseudonyms or questionable online activity. You never know one of your ‘friends’ might be your future employer, judging you on that humour article or meme you shared a few weeks ago! • Re-evaluate your virtual interests: The same policy applies to the profiles you follow online. Virtual memberships of professional organisations, career-related groups and sharing information regarding corporate projects one has undertaken are likely to attract more employers than posting on movie forums and other, casual topics. • Proof read: As suggested by Jobvite, minor typos can discourage a recruiter from reading your profile further. Hence, you must remain careful about grammar, spellings and punctuation to create a more professional impression. • Say no to negativity: Not only should one look out for typing errors and spelling or grammar mistakes, they must also be vary of posting any racial, political or negative comments on their profiles lest a recruiter be viewing it. This is extremely important when it comes to large, multinational organisations who are particular about corporate image and wouldn’t hire someone with contradictory values.
domestic goddess 7
THE EXPRESS TRIBUNE, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
By Gulnaz Mondegarian
• Chicken (cut into eight pieces) 1 and 1/2 kg • Large onions (sliced) 2 • Vinegar 2 tbsp • Cinammon stick (two inch piece) 1 • Green chillies 2-4
For the masala paste • Red chillies (dried) 4-8
The word ‘Vindaloo’ is derived from the Portuguese word ‘Vinha De Alhos’ which combines the two chief ingredients of the curry: (Vinha) vinegar and (Alhos) garlic. Vindaloo was originally a vinegar and garlic-based water stew concocted by the Portuguese who cooked it with beef or pork. However, after the Portuguese came to India and settled in Goa, the curry was revamped completely with the addition of spices, chillies and other surrounding cultural influences. Over the centuries, Vindaloo has become one of the spiciest and most popular curry dishes in the subcontinent, following korma and chicken tikka masala closely. Although the curry requires a substantial amount of oil in its preparation, Vindaloo tastes best a day or two after it has been cooked as the oil, vinegar and other flavours have absorbed into the curry completely by then. After all, Vindaloo gets its special taste mainly because of the vinegar in it.
• Garlic cloves 8 • Fresh ginger (one inch piece) 1 • Cumin seeds 1 tsp • Vinegar 2 tbsp
• Sugar 1 and 1/2 tsp • Vegetable oil 3 tbsp • Small potato (peeled) ½
• Heat the oil in a pan and fry the onions until they become goldenbrown. • Grind the ingredients of the masala paste together. • Once mixed, add the masala paste to the pan and cook for about five minutes. • Add the chicken, vinegar, cinnamon stick, green chillies and salt and cook for 10 minutes. • Pour in one cup of hot water and bring the mixture to a boil. Simmer until the chicken is cooked thoroughly. • About 15 minutes before the chicken is done, add potatoes to the pan and mix them in. • Once the chicken is cooked, add sugar as you desire. • For best results, serve the curry warm with plain white rice. Note: You can also substitute the chicken with mutton or fish, according to your preference.
Love spicy food? If you want to enrich your experience of eating Vindaloo combine it with this tantalising recipe for basmati rice seasoned with garam masala. Don’t forget to keep a glass of water at hand!
• Basmati rice 2 cups • Butter 4 tbsp • Medium-sized onion (chopped) 1 • Garlic clove (minced) 1
• Garam masala 1 tsp • Vegetable broth 4 cups • Salt 1 tsp • Freshly-ground black pepper to taste
• Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius • In a stove-to-oven pot, melt the butter over medium heat. • Add the onions, garlic and garam masala to the pot and cook for about five minutes, stirring until the onions are soft. • Add rice and stir well until it is coated. • Pour in the vegetable stock, salt and pepper according to taste and bring the mixture to a boil. • Cover the pot and bake the rice until it becomes tender and the vegetable stock is absorbed. This usually takes about 20 to 25 minutes. Retrieve the pot from the oven and allow it to cool for about five minutes before serving.
woman of the week 8 e world A glimpse into th rhouses we po i of Pakistan
Relaxing at ho me.
At a wedding with Frieha Altaf & Saba Ansari.
With Bilal Lashar i, Hamza Ali Abba si and
1) Pear-shaped people: The main characteristic of this body type is that the lower body is usually larger than the upper half. In other words, pear-shaped people have hips that are wider than their shoulders, resulting in a prominent and rounded lower half and a well-defined waist. What to wear? Short pants and regular skinny jeans are the ideal pants for you! Although skinnies were originally designed for tall women to flaunt their legs, their snug fit can tone down your curves and make you appear smaller. Short-length skinnies are great for short, pear-shaped women as they don’t roll up around the ankles like a chooridaar pyjama.
Ahmed Ali Butt.
3) Apple apparel: Imagine an apple and
Pants — be it jeans, tights, cotton pyjamas or any other form of bottoms — are usually the most casual and comfortable part of your attire. But don’t let their simplicity fool you! It is important to wear the right kind of pants to compliment your top and accessories and give your outfit the look you are aiming for. Whether you prefer to match your bottoms according to colour, style or length, you must remember that dressing according to your body type is as important as dressing up itself. Your bottoms may flatter your shirt perfectly but if they are too small or too large, not only can your outfit go to waste but you can also appear uncomfortable and tacky. Fortunately, we have compiled this list to help you find the right pair of pants to flatter your shape and bring out the best in your body.
notice how it is bigger on top. As you move down, the sides of the apple curve inwards into a narrow base which seems to be supporting the weight of the top. This is exactly what an apple-shaped form looks like! Most of their weight accumulates above the hips as a result of which, the lower half of their bodies’ remains slim. The broader upper half and narrow bottom must be balanced out to lest they look disproportionate. What to wear? To tame the love-handles (the bulging fat deposits around your waist), it is advisable for you to wear fitted pants with high waists to appear slimmer and smarter. Make sure that the high waist doesn’t come up all the way to your ribcage as that will not only make you look old-fashioned but also uncomfortable. Apple-shaped people should also try and go for darkcoloured tops as these slim the body down. A slimmer top will compliment a narrow bottom perfectly!
2) Hourglass hips: Similar to
4) Rectangular, banana bottoms: These
an hourglass, you top and bottom are of similar or equal proportions, set off by a narrow waistline. If this sounds like you, then you have the curves to die for! What to wear? Flaunt your naturally curvaceous figure with slim-cut and straight-legged, fitted bottoms in solid colours like black or dark blue. If you like the look of casual ripped jeans then make sure that the rip isn’t too high up your leg lest your thigh pops out.
lucky people are of equal proportions from top to bottom with a waist, hip and shoulders of similar width, usually on the slender side. What to wear? The best part about bananashaped people is that they are generally tall and straight-figured, making it easy for them to experiment with bolder or lighter colours without worrying about looking over-the-top. Your body may lack the necessary curves to fill out skinny jean but details like back pockets, embellishments, prints and bold designs can enhance the look of your lower half, creating the illusion of curves.
Pear Shape
Rectangular Shape
Apple Shape
Hourglass Shape SOURCE: SHEKNOWS.COM