29 January 2004	Thursday	06 Zilhaj 1424

KARACHI, Jan 28: The National Institute of Child Health, on Wednesday, organized a fun activity-cum-health education programme for the children suffering from diabetes.

Over 50 diabetic children attended the magic show, speech contest, poetry recitation session and games competition, which were all part of the funfair programme. The winning children were also awarded prizes.

The parents and guardians accompanying the patients were informed that symptoms as frequent thirst, urination at short intervals, weight loss should not be overlooked and proper medical examination of the concerned child must be ensured under any condition.

It was stressed that timely diagnosis and absolute compliance to the treatment could help children avoid serious conditions. The parents were also appealed to help doctors to dispel myths and misconceptions about the disease.

They were assured that the diabetic child through proper control of disease grew as equally active and competent adults as any other non-diabetic kid. Prof Zeenat Issani, Prof Afroze Ramzan, Dr Jamal Raza and other doctors of NICH also attended the programme.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jamal Raza mentioned that it was in the wake of fast growing incidence of diabetes among children that the programme was arranged. The programme would help parents realize that timely diagnosis could help avoiding complications.

He said that on average five new cases were reported every new month at the institute, where they were provided the required treatment and services absolutely free of cost.

Dr Raza said that children born to parents suffering from Diabetes Type Two did not get inflicted with Type One of the disease, but, were at high risk to suffer from Type Two as they assumed adulthood.

He said that the NICH through the support of local philanthropists was providing insulin worth Rs40,000 to Rs50,000 every month while the expenditure incurred on required tests, strips and relevant assistance was around Rs70,000 to Rs80,000.

The incidence of the disease was equally prevalent among children belonging to different social strata and there was also no distinction on basis of gender, he said. -APP