KARACHI: A global science conference being organised at Karachi University (KU) would bring together leading health and medical sciences’ experts and help raise the status of Islamic world scientists through capacity-building and creation of network for the common benefit of humanity.
This was stated by Prof Iqbal Choudhary heading KU’s International Centre for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS) at a press conference held on the campus to brief journalists on the 5th Science and Technology Exchange Programme (STEP) International Conference.
Focused on ‘Health challenges of communicable diseases and non-communicable diseases’ this year, the four-day event is jointly organised by Pakistan and Iran and will open at the ICCBS on Feb 27.
The last STEP conference was held in Oman, the third and the first ones in Iran, and the second such event was held in Malaysia.
Students major segment of drug users, seminar told
Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah will inaugurate the conference while Sindh Health and Population Welfare Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho will also be present on the first day.
“Scientists from 40 countries, including Iran, Lebanon, Indonesia, Malaysia, Bangladesh, Finland, Jordan, the US, Singapore and Sweden, are expected to participate in the event. The Mustafa (PBUH) Science and Technology Foundation (MSTF) of Iran is playing a major role in organising the event in Karachi,” said Prof Iqbal. The event would provide a scientific platform for scholars, institutions, and industries for an interactive exchange on knowledge sharing and technology transfer, he said.
In reply to a question, he said the event would focus on current understanding of diseases, prevention and diagnosis, drug discovery and development.
On the prevalence of communicable and non-communicable diseases, Prof Iqbal said that these diseases were common and on the rise because of multiple factors.
Non-communicable diseases, including cardiovascular diseases, respiratory diseases, cancer, diabetes and mental disorders, had emerged as major health challenges and there was an immediate need to focus on the factors contributing to their increased prevalence.
In his remarks, Dr Farhan Essa, representing the Pakistan Medical Association, spoke on the communicable diseases affecting large populations both in and outside the country.
“Infections, such as hepatitis B and hepatitis C, are a major cause of mortality and morbidity in the country affecting all age groups. Whereas in recent years, we have seen an emergence of new infections, including chikungunya,” he said, adding that the country’s bleak health situation indicated that the authorities concerned were not doing their job seriously.
‘Students major segment of drug users’
Students comprised 80 per cent of customers of drug peddlers recently arrested by the police, said the Karachi police chief while speaking as the chief guest at a seminar organised at KU on Monday.
Assistant Prof at KU’s geography department Dr Salman Zubair and KU students’ adviser Dr Syed Asim Ali also spoke.
Titled ‘Role of youth in bringing a positive change in society’, the event was organised by Karachi University Civic and Social Responsibility Society under the supervision of KU Students’ Adviser Office.
“This information was shared by the drug peddlers who also told us that these students were from different educational institutions. In some cases, students were found selling drugs. This is shocking and alarming,” said Karachi police chief Dr Amir Shaikh, also holding the charge of additional inspector general of police.
He urged parents and family elders to keep an eye on students’ activities and also collect information about their gatherings and whereabouts.
Dr Shaikh said that his department would arrange students’ visits to jail and police stations so they could have an interaction with lawbreakers and look into the reasons why they chose the wrong path.
Students should submit their recommendations and suggestions after these visits so the departments could benefit, he added.
“We need to look into factors forcing people into crime. We need to know why our youngsters are getting involved in criminal activities. Research should be conducted to find out if poverty, unemployment and divisions within society are factors behind this trend,” he said.
Dr Shaikh also spoke on the role of police and their services and said that around 700 policemen had been martyred since 2013 in the city whereas 72 traffic policemen lost their lives in the line of duty.
“It would be unjust to blame the whole police department for some individuals’ misdeeds. Only those who are wrong should be considered so,” he said. He, however, admitted that there were areas in the police that required improvement for which collaborative efforts were needed.
Sharing some data on traffic accidents, he said that 201 youngsters lost their lives in 331 fatal accidents reported last year.
“We must realise that following traffic rules is important and helps save lives. There is a dire need to create awareness of this subject,” he said.
Published in Dawn, February 26th, 2019