ISLAMABAD, April 7: The World Health Day was observed in Pakistan and other parts of the world on Friday to create awareness among the people of the importance of health for a healthy society.

Seminars, symposia and walks were arranged in different cities to highlight the significance of the day.

Meanwhile, the World Health Organization in a report said that a huge shortage of medical staff in the developing world was seriously undermining the international community’s efforts to combat major diseases.

Marking the World Health Day, the report said that poor countries across Asia and Africa were in an urgent need of more than two million doctors and nurses to effectively deal with diseases like tuberculosis, malaria and Aids.

The report said that there was shortage of more than four million health professionals in nearly 60 countries around the world with Africa the worst affected region.

Meanwhile, the health ministry also arranged a walk in connection with the World Health Day participated by a big number of people from all walks of life.

Students, volunteers, officials of non-governmental organizations, nurses, doctors, paramedical and health ministry’s officials participated in the walk that culminated near Parliament House.

Talking to the media persons on this occasion, Health Secretary Syed Anwer Mehmood said that the government was committed to supporting the groups in their advocacy, research and training efforts for providing basic health facilities to the people.

He stressed the need for creating awareness among the public of health care and added that the government was mobilising all available resources to strengthen the health sector that was a key area besides education.

— Agencies