Fighting the disease: Diabetes action plan on the cards for K-P

Effective information system and cell to tackle the ailment will be established

PESHAWAR: As part of Pakistan’s first diabetes action plan, an institute of community diabetology will be established in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa to mitigate the threats caused by the disease.

Also, an increase in operational research, revision of the curriculum at medical and nursing schools and training of health care staff are part of the plan.

A handout issued on Saturday read that these recommendations were presented by a delegation of Hayatabad Medical Complex and Advisery Committee members of the Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Diabetes Forum. The members called on the K-P Chief Minister Pervez Khattak at his official residence.

The recommendations focused on a broad range of mechanisms and initiatives at the primary, secondary and tertiary levels which would collectively work on the prevention, control and management of diabetes in the province.

The recommendations included appointing specialised diabetes doctors at district hospitals, allocating a sufficient budget for an effective diabetes health information system which would provide data to monitor diabetes mortality and morbidity.

The committee members also suggested constituting a task force at the provincial level to review and implement the recommendations which included establishing a diabetes cell under the health department.

It was also proposed that the current ‘Insulin for Life’ programme be extended to other districts of the province.

The members recommended that taxation laws on unhealthy food should be implemented. They advised the provision of parks and walking tracks, media awareness campaigns and school outreach programmes to instill healthy lifestyle values among the youth.

On the occasion, Khattak pledged support for the provincial diabetes action plan and ensured all relevant sectors would work jointly towards developing and implementing it.

Also present on the occasion, Embassy of Denmark Chargé d’ Affaires Helle Nielsen, “The collaboration between Novo Nordisk and the K-P government is an excellent example of a public-private partnership with a common goal. We need to strengthen the diabetes health care system in Pakistan through awareness and quality care.”

According to the International Diabetes Federation, there are an estimated seven million people suffering from diabetes in Pakistan.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 17^th, 2016.