Articles and letters may be edited for the purposes of clarity and space. They are published in good faith with a view to enlightening all the stakeholders. However, the contents of these writings may not necessarily match the views of the newspaper.
Healthcare threats
The Pakistan National Heart Association has pointed out that Pakistan had a relatively simple way to improve the health of its people, and thereby cut costs on healthcare, while also earning more revenue which could be siphoned off to help lower income groups. The Heart Association has pointed out that Pakistan already has about 10 million people who are pre-diabetic and every third adult citizen is living with type-2 diabetes. An alarming situation.
The population of people in Pakistan with diabetes could increase to 62 million by 2045. In a report last year, it was found that diabetes in Pakistan had increased, with 33 million adults living with diabetes in the country in 2021 while more than a quarter of adults living with diabetes in Pakistan remained undiagnosed.
As one of the means to prevent this and also generate more revenue for the economy as well as cutting down on rising healthcare costs, it has been suggested that tax of around 50 per cent be placed on all sugary drinks including sodas, energy drinks, sweetened juices, fruit juices, powdered milk which contains sugar and all other such beverages sold in large numbers around the country.
The beverage industry is lobbying hard to prevent such a move. It is also vital that people be educated about diabetes and that people learn how to help avoid falling into the category of people who are either peripatetic or diabetic.
The changes should begin at school level and continue through from there. The taxation on sugary drinks could be a useful factor in stopping the consumption of items containing high levels of sugar, though of course people must be aware of all the items that they consume on a daily basis to make a significant difference.
Apart from taxation, what is also necessary is to understand that consumption of low-value sugary foods and the rise in diabetes is linked also to poverty, rural-urban migration, sedentary lifestyles and declining markets in Western countries which have led food companies to target developing countries in Asia and Africa. This is not just about a disease that is known as a silent killer, but about the overall health concerns of millions of people. A change in our national consciousness is required so governments realize that security doesn’t just come in a neat little box but also includes security from healthcare threats.
QAZI JAMSHED SIDDIQUI
Lahore
Monkeypox awareness workshops
In a first-of-its-kind event, the Ninitech Global Review Writers Community hosted a monkey-pox awareness workshop on Microsoft Teams on May 1st. Dr. Arif Siddiqui, a seasoned healthcare professional & Certified Cardiovascular Intervention Specialist, led the session.“This community is made to educate people in the freelance industry, as well as everything to do with the work from home lifestyle.
Speaking of the origin of work-from-home, COVID-19, we now detected Mpox in Pakistan which made me host an awareness workshop led by Dr. Arif”, said Haziq Siddiqui, CEO of Ninitech. Dr. Siddiqui’s presentation featured PowerPoint slides to engage the audience and create an interactive experience. Participants were encouraged to ask questions throughout the workshop which Dr. Siddiqui addressed at the end of the session. This interactive format led to a deeper understanding of monkey-pox, its symptoms and prevention measures.
Monkey-pox, a rare but potentially serious viral illness, shares similarities with smallpox, but is typically less severe. It is transmitted to humans from animals, particularly rodents and monkeys, and spreads between people through respiratory droplets, contaminated material, or direct contact with bodily fluids or lesions. The recent detection of monkey-pox in Pakistan has raised concerns and emphasized the importance of increasing public awareness.
By attending this workshop, participants gained valuable knowledge about monkey-pox, its transmission and how to protect themselves and their communities. In recognition of their participation, attendees were awarded certificates. The Ninitech Global Review Writers Community has taken an important step in addressing the emerging health threat of monkey-pox in Pakistan. As the country grapples with this new challenge, it is crucial for individuals, communities and healthcare professionals to stay informed and take preventive measures to mitigate the impact of the virus. The success of this workshop demonstrates the value of collaborative efforts in raising awareness and promoting public health.
AREEJ KHALID
Via email
False fire alarm
On 18th April, my family and I went to the Lucky one mall in Karachi. We were shopping peacefully, when suddenly, a crowd from the upper floor burst through the escalator and rushed towards the mall’s exit areas. The dissemination of the information that the fire had begun on the higher floor and the sounding of the fire alarms resulted in a chaotic situation. They were escaping the fire even if nobody knew about it or had seen it.
Some women even lost their small children in the throng, and others were so terrified that they screamed and sobbed. After we safely exited the building and the chaos subsided a little, we learned that the fire alarm sensors may have been activated by a cylinder that burst or by excessive flame from some of the food court’s stoves.
What could have gone wrong more seriously after this entire incident? The folks who were there when the incident occurred in the food court had the option of handling it coolly rather than responding in that way and endangering the lives of others. These kinds of incidents frequently occur around us; there are several documented instances of crowd conduct contributing to undesirable outcomes.
In order to prevent safety hazards, our system must have public safety protocols in place. Large organizations must have the appropriate people and procedures in place to direct, communicate, and clear areas in such circumstances. Lack of clear directions causes enormous losses during times of mass panic. Additionally, there is a need for mass panic awareness programmes that teach people how to react cautiously and carefully.
MALAIKA BULAND
Karachi
Box letter
Drug addiction
Drug addiction is a kind of self-pollution. The common drugs used by the addicts are heroin, hashish, cocaine and marijuana. Heroin is the worst killer. A drug-addicted person can’t follow a virtuous pattern of life. The use of drugs makes a person drowsy and detached emotionally and completely free from any anxiety. Drug addicts cannot perform their duties well. Moreover it is very difficult for them to get any suitable job. Thus unemployment moves them towards many types of crimes. Drug addicts should not be left uncured. They are, in fact, part of our society. Proper and suitable treatment must be given to them in order to make them useful in their social life. It is the duty of the government to take care of such drug addicts and take action against the drug mafia.
MUHAMMAD FARIS
Karachi
