KARACHI: Concerted efforts stressed to control diseases
KARACHI, May 16: Sindh Health Secretary Prof Naushad Sheikh has taken strong notice of the fact that Sindh reports the highest number of almost all diseases, including those which are easily preventable. He was addressing the inaugural ceremony of first of the series of 5-day training workshops to prevent Acute Respiratory Tract Infections (ARI) and Chronic Diarrhoeal Disease (CDD) organized by the Sindh Health Department and Planning Department at Paediatrics Ward, UNIT III, Civil Hospital Karachi and Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) here on Monday.
The secretary said high rate of children and infant mortality was a national problem and it was high time to address this issue and for this, every individual had to work hard with dedication.
“Sindh is on top in all diseases as compared to other provinces. We all have to think over that why we are suffering most despite having expertise. We should not suffer and we have to control these issues. Recently, we have got approved the health policy and by implementing this, we will be able to prevent disease to some extent,” he added.
He in this context particularly referred to the incidence of HIV/AIDS adding that scenario calls for serious contemplation on part of policy makers, health department authorities, health care providers and communities to realize the actual facts and adopt an approach focussed on education, prevention, and timely as well as appropriate medical intervention.
“Irony of fact is Sindh also have some of the most developed parts of the country including Karachi yet figures low in context of health indicators,” the health secretary commented and hinting towards the fact that it was ignorance and wrong choice that malnutrition continues to haunt many - enhancing vulnerability to wide range of ailments.
As a strategy to counter the situation the health department has embarked upon a series of training programmes for doctors, nurses and Para-medics for timely intervention and prompt as well as treatment modalities required at least to prevent infant and children mortality/ morbidity as well as maternal deaths and pregnancy induced complications, he added.
The secretary said that the launching of ARI/CDD prevention and intervention training programme under the aegis of Sindh ARI/CDD/IMCI Cell headed by Prof Iqbal A. Memon was part of the very strategy.
According to him the provincial health policy had been developed as a document and policy guideline to address the issues ensuring cost effective interventions so as not only rate of survival was raised, quality life ensured and funding were utilized for raising living standards of the masses.
“It must be remembered that health department can not work in isolation close coordination between all line departments including population welfare, public health engineering, environment and local governments is required.” he said.
Prof Shaikh also appreciated DUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan for initiating wide range of training programmes for medical professionals including technical staff.
DUHS Vice-Chancellor Prof Masood Hameed Khan appreciated the coordinated efforts on part of the provincial health and planning departments with a view to train concerned professionals in an extremely crucial sphere on which depends the very survival of children.
Reiterating need for well-trained qualified professionals, he said that the DUHS had an extremely ambitious programme in this regard adding that training programmes were either already being offered or in process to be introduced in 15 different domains to those associated with the field of medicine and health care.
The one to be formally launched in June this year is the diploma and degree training programmes for medical technicians, he said mentioning that a full fledged institute of medical technicians training had been established and arrangements were being finalized to conform curricula and open it for interested and intending candidates.
Prof Iqbal A Memon, Sindh Coordinator for ARI/CDD Cell in his welcome address said the developing world including Pakistan had a double burden of infectious diseases followed by communicable diseases.
Elaborating his stance, he said 70 per cent of all cases of ARI with particular reference to pneumonia besides chronic diarrhoeal diseases leading to further aggravation of malnutrition, measles, and malaria were registered in developing world.
The scenario was said to be all the more alarming in Pakistan where 30 per cent of deaths under the age of five were due to ARI and 25 per cent mortality in the same age group due to CCD.
According to Prof Memon it was for the first time that besides technical support financial support was also being extended by the health department to address the major challenge to any child’s life.
This, he said was in recognition to the fact that a multiple approach with provision for ORS, medicines and above all skilled health care professionals at periphery levels capable to make immediate diagnosis and administer easily available and cost effective intervention could help save a large number of lives.
Prof Memon said that another important component of ARI/CDD Cell was the incorporation of Rapid Assessment Teams being trained to handle any epidemic of gastroenteritis in any part of the province.
He mentioned that 80 doctors belonging to four different districts of Sindh would be trained during the first phase of the programme to continue by June and that the programme would continue during next three years.
Dr Nand Lal, Focal Person of the ARI/CDD Cell gave an overview of the workshop. The ceremony among others was also attended by Additional Secretary, Manzoor Memon, Additional Medical Superintendent, CHK, Dr Manzoor Qureishi, Principal, Dow Medical College, Dr Afsar Salahuddin and other senior medical professionals.
