ISLAMABAD:
Antibiotic consumption in Pakistan without consulting a doctor first is resulting in new strains of antibiotic-resistant and other dangerous bacteria that weaken the immune system in the long run. Therefore, the spread of communicable disease such as tuberculosis and hepatitis is on the rise while the body’s resistance against them is declining.
This was said by Brig Parvez Ahmed, consultant haematologist at Armed Forces Bone Marrow Transplant Centre, Rawalpindi.
He was speaking at the inaugural session of the eighth conference on infectious diseases titled “The Age Of Superbugs: Facts and Solutions”, organised by Shifa International Hospital in collaboration with Infectious Diseases Society of Pakistan (IDSP) and International Society of Chemotherapy (ISC) here on Saturday.
The conference’s objective is to find ways to deal with the challenge of infectious diseases in Pakistan. Health experts on the occasion urged the need for an immediate and comprehensive plan to control the rapid spread of infectious diseases in the country.
Experts cited unhygienic environments in hospitals and communities, poor handling and distribution of food items, quakes and unawareness among the public about the spread and prevention of infectious diseases as the chief causes behind the rapid increase.
They stressed the urgent need to establish active “infectious disease units” in hospitals to educate people about control and prevention.
Dr Asad Hafeez, Director General at Ministry of Health, said that the paramedic staff of all health institutions should be immediately trained. “The spread of infectious disease in the country is a serious health concern and public-private partnership is required to combat it,” he added.
Dr Ejaz Khan, IDSP General Secretary, said, “An infectious disease is the most potent cause of havoc among the populace. It is to be tackled through awareness, followed by intervention.”
Other prominent doctors at the conference included IDSP President Dr Altaf Ahmed, Prof Kurt Naber, associate professor of urology from Munich, Dr Lars Kocherscheidt, Dr Salman Siddiqui, mycobacteriologist, Prof Naveed Khan, chairperson of the Department of Biological and Biomedical Sciences at Agha Khan University, Prof Sajid Maqbool, professor emeritus at Children Hospital Lahore and Prof Ashraf Sultan from King Edward Medical University Lahore.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 13th, 2011.
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