Rise of diabetes is much threatening for the illiterate populace of the country
KURRAM AGENCY: Our health system has many flaws that are still unheeded and are a bad omen for the country’s future. Just three months ago a four-year-long health survey revealed that Pakistan’s 26 per cent population is suffering from diabetes, but this alarming news seems to be totally neglected by the quarters concerned.
I remember vividly when AIDS — a newly less understood and communicable disease was discovered — was responded with an immediate worldwide campaign which emphasised preventive measures against the disease. The echoes of this campaign were also reverberated in our parts of the world with positive results. The rise of diabetes is much threatening for the illiterate populace of the country. However, an awareness campaign can improve the overall situation.
To start with, these initiatives may be conducive to help control the rising incidence of diabetes: establishment of new diabetes centres, availability of diabetic food for the affected population of the country that stands at 5.2 million, conducting courses for physicians aiming at a better management of diabetes cases, allocation of a special budget for treatment and management of the disease, and a simple understandable literature for patients and their caretakers.
Dr Mukhtar Ali
Published in The Express Tribune, January 16th, 2018.
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