KARACHI, Dec 22: With emphasis on preventive health programmes and to promote the concept of healthy lifestyle, the Sindh government has approved a Rs32 million health education programme throughout the province with focus on improving the health of the people, through behaviour modification and risk reduction.

Sindh health minister Maj Gen (retd) Ahsan Ahmed told the participants of a media workshop on promotion of healthy lifestyles at a local hotel on Saturday, where he was the chief guest at the opening session.

He said the health education programme would focus on countering communicable diseases through immunization and non- communicable ones through behaviour modification.

Highlighting the significance of the workshop theme, the minister said that by the year 2020, over 70 per cent premature deaths among adults would in some way be the outcome of behaviours initiated during childhood and youth.

He added that cardiovascular diseases, cancer, depression, other psychological problems, diabetes, pulmonary disease, HIV\AIDS, accidents, addictions, the leading causes of deaths, diseases and disability all over the world were significantly influenced by interrelated categories of behaviour such as tobacco use, alcohol or substance abuse, sexual activities comprising multiple partners, care-free and adventurous living, obesity, inappropriate eating and lack of physical activity.

He claimed that government was trying to enhance national capacity by developing health supportive policies, mobilizing human resources, creating adequate institutional capability and infrastructure for health promotion.

He also acknowledged that only those health promotion strategies which were built on principals of equity and social justice could enhance the effectiveness of related programmes and guarantee success.

WHO adviser on health education Abdul Sattar Chaudhary said in the opening session that the health lifestyle education programme would focus on behaviour modification in the use of tobacco, alcohol and drugs, substance abuse, nutrition, eating patterns, physical activities, environmental protection, sexual conduct and safety from mishaps and accidents.

The later session comprised an interactive discussion among the participants for formulating strategies and building alliances for promoting health education with focus of healthy living.

Sindh health secretary Khaild Chaudhry rounded up the workshop by highlighting the need for a more forceful and integrated participation of all the related persons and organizations — hospitals, NGOs, CBOs, government departments, donor agencies, philanthropists, social activists, labour leaders, media, teachers, doctors, women organizations and all others concerned for bringing about a positive and healthy change in the lifestyles of the people.

He also lauded the role of the World Health Organization in supporting the various ongoing health education and preventive medicine programmes throughout the country and suggested the formation of a task force to formulate strategies and streamline activities for launching the lifestyle-based health education programme in the province.

The workshop was attended by individuals connected with various radio channels, members of the press, doctors, health education officials, officials of the EPI and the Sindh Safe blood Authority, WHO officials and Sindh health department officials.