KARACHI, March 19: In Pakistan the burden of infectious diseases is considerable yet not enough importance is attached to this discipline. There are less than ten trained experts who are working in this area.

This was stated by some doctors belonging to the Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan at a press conference on Wednesday afternoon. To highlight issues in the discipline, the first congress of infectious diseases will be organized from March 28 to 30 at the Liaquat National Hospital, they stated.

Dr Naseem Salahuddin, Dr Anita Zaidi, Dr Altaf Ahmed, Dr Erum Khan and Dr Afia Zafar claimed that infectious diseases were the most common ailments affecting children and adults of the country. That’s why there was an urgent need for Pakistanis to attach due importance to the discipline.

They were of the view that subjects involving the mentioned discipline should be taught at both the undergraduate and postgraduate levels. The people who were directly affected by infectious diseases belonged to the middle and lower classes.

The members of the Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan said the five areas which would be dealt with during the proceedings of the three-day conference are: clinical issues: diagnostic facilities; epidemiology; prevention and therapy.

The issues of importance to be discussed in the seminar for which 12 foreign delegates have agreed to visit Pakistan include: over-prescription of antibiotics; safety or otherwise of the blood transfusion services; and overuse and reuse of syringes.

The doctors urged the authorities to take note of the recommendations that will be formulated towards the end of the event.