March 05, 2007	Monday	Safar 15, 1428

KARACHI, March 4: In connection with the World Kidney Day, to be observed on March 8, a walk was organised by the Kidney Foundation here on Sunday at the Quaid-i-Azam mausoleum.

Naib City Nazim Ms Nasreen Jalil was the chief guest on the occasion.

In her speech, she said that the city government was undertaking all efforts to ensure provision of healthcare facilities to every one and extend the same to even dwellers of this city as health was a basic right of every citizen.

She pointed out that the CDGK had got the allocation to health sector this year increased by eight per cent.

Regarding kidney problems, Ms Jalil said that four dialysis machines had been installed each at the New Karachi Hospital and Abbasi Shaheed Hospital being run under the CDGK management.

She announced that in the next phase, the dialysis machines would be provided to Sarfaraz Rafiqui Hospital and other hospitals.

She said that development projects were being executed across the metropolis at an accelerated pace. Special attention was also being paid to the education sector, she added.

Speaking on the occasion, Prof Jaffer Naqvi of the Kidney Foundation said that every year, around 15,000 people suffer from kidney diseases in the country and the main causes of the kidney problems happened to be consumption of substandard water, diabetes and blood pressure problems.

She stressed on physical exercise, walk and lesser consumption of sugar, fat and salt as preventive measures.

Executive Officer of the Kidney Foundation Ms Shahnaz Ahad told participants of the walk that a medical camp had been organised at the Arts Council Karachi and was open to general public.

She said people could have diabetes, cholesterol and urine test done free of cost.

On the occasion, printed material was distributed among people about awareness of kidney diseases, preventive measures and treatment.—APP