KARACHI: Primary health care termed key to success: Ways to curb increasing burden
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, April 6: Experts at a seminar observed that poverty and ignorance were among the causes of increasing burden of disease in the country. They suggested that an improved primary health care was necessary for success of any health care delivery system. The seminar was organised by the family medicine department of the Aga Khan University in connection with the World Health Day on Thursday.
Chairman of the Family Medicine Department Prof Riaz Qureshi said: “High blood pressure, if not controlled properly often becomes a silent killer, with stroke as well as heart and kidney failure leading to early death.”
He recommended a brisk walk for half hour five days a week, on an empty stomach or an hour after meals, for control of blood pressure and associated risk factors. He said that the selection of the most suitable drug for blood pressure reduction needed to be prescribed on an individual basis for each patient.
Dr Waris Qidwai, a consultant family physician said that primary care was essential for the success of any health care delivery system.
Pakistan, as a country with limited resources, should strengthen this area as it has been observed that countries with focus on primary care have better health indicators.
Speaking on prevention and screening in general practice, Dr Sameena Shah said that many developing countries, including Pakistan, were affected by a double disease burden that was the combination of long-established infectious diseases, with a rapidly growing new epidemic of chronic, non-communicable diseases.
According to her, four out of five chronic disease deaths today are in low- and middle-income countries and people here tend to develop diseases at younger ages and suffer longer – often with complications that are preventable.
Under the circumstances the general practitioner stands in a key position to bring non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as cardiovascular disease, cancers, diabetes, and respiratory conditions under control through prevention and screening, she added.
Speaking on asthma, Dr Saniya Sabzwari described the disease as a lungs problem whose symptoms showed shortness of breath, cough and wheezing or whistling sounds with breathing.
She suggested the patients should consult a doctor, who would carry out a detailed check-up and prescribe tests to detect asthma and, if confirmed, proper and timely treatment be pursued and no smoking be resorted to.
The World Health Day is celebrated on April 7 to mark the founding of the World Health Organisation (WHO). “International Health Security” being the theme this year, the day is aimed at raising awareness of key global health issues and urging the governments, organisation and other concerned to invest in health and build a safer future.
SIUT SYMPOSIUM: A two-day symposium on “Radiology state-of-the-art” was held at Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) with the collaboration of the Pakistan Academy of Radiological Services on April 5 and 6.
Dr Sarwat Hussain, an expert working in New York, and Dr Rana Tauqeer, a consultant Vascular Interventional Radiologist in Saudi Arabia, and Prof Adibul Hasan Rizvi, Director of SIUT were prominent figures among the speakers.
A discussion on national and international career opportunities in radiology was also held among senior radiologists, trainee radiologist, fresh graduates and radiology technologists.
