ISLAMABAD: Stakeholders in the health sector have urged the government to make health for all a constitutional right.

They passed the resolution during a seminar organised by Potohar Organisation for Development Advocacy (PODA) with the collaboration of the University of Chakwal in connection with World Health Day.

Presenting the resolution to around 200 participants, including students, faculty members, senior district administration officers of various university departments, lawyers, social activists, community leaders, and media persons, Chief Executive Officer PODA Sameena Nazir urged the government that, for granting the right to health, there was a dire need to introduce a constitutional amendment.

Terming health as a fundamental human right, she explained that most countries in the world made the right to health for their citizens a constitutional right; however, unlike 115 countries in the world, the Constitution of Pakistan does not explicitly recognise the right to health.

In 1948, countries around the world came together and founded the World Health Organisation (WHO) to promote health, keep the world safe, and serve the vulnerable so everyone, everywhere, could attain the highest level of health and well-being. The First World Health Assembly decided to celebrate World Health Day on April 7 of each year, with effect from 1950.

PODA, in collaboration with the University of Chakwal, jointly celebrated World Health Day here in the university auditorium titled “Promoting and Protecting Women and Girls’ Health, Challenges and a Way Forward,” organised under the project “Reduce Early Marriages to Enhance Gender Equality,” funded by the Royal Norwegian Embassy, Islamabad.

According to a statement issued from Islamabad highlighting the importance of a healthy diet for attaining proper nutrition, Vice Chancellor University of Chakwal Dr. Mohammad Bilal Khan, said there was a need to promote local products.

Appreciating PODA and the management of the University of Chakwal, Assistant Commissioner Ms. Sameena Bashir said, “healthy women guarantee a healthy society.”.

CEO of the Education Department of Chakwal, Abdul Waheed, said: “Unlike other countries, we don’t pay much attention to the subject of health in the curriculum. We need to ensure holistic education for our future generations, including elements of physical, mental, and emotional health for their development in text books. We need to address subjects related to health at the school level, as it has become a reality since COVID-19.”

Another speaker, Dr Faiza Akhter, said that malnourished females can manage their lifestyle adaptation in diet through portion control by adding five major groups of foods such as carbohydrates (roti, rice, pasta, noodles), protein fat (meat, lentils), fat (healthy fat, olive oil, coco oil), folic acid, and zinc supplements. “By lifestyle modification, a diet plan, and healthy exercises, females can manage malnutrition issues,” she added.

Published in Dawn, April 5th, 2024