Denmark govt to launch awareness drive on diabetes in Punjab

Punjab govt welcomes the offer and assures full cooperation

LAHORE: The governments of Punjab and Denmark have agreed upon joint initiatives for the awareness and cure of diabetes in the province.

Commercial Councilor of Royal Danish Embassy at Pakistan Ali Mushtaq Butt and Commercial adviser Aslam Pervez called on Punjab Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Dr Yasmin Rashid on Wednesday and offered cooperation of Denmark government. The health minister welcomed the offer and said diabetes was a silent killer and dangerous disorder which was haunting 16.98% of the adult population of Pakistan.



“According to a recent survey as many 35.3 million of the adult population was suffering from diabetes which was very alarming,” she said. However, the minister noted that “by changing the lifestyle the effects of diabetes can be reduced”. She said Denmark had been successfully running diabetes awareness programmes in K-P.

“We assure all cooperation to Denmark in launching awareness programme in Punjab,” she said. She was of the view that school students should be engaged in healthy activities so that they could be prevented from diabetes in the future. “Fighting diabetes is not so difficult. With the help of willpower and proper medical consultancy one can get rid of the intensity of diabetes,” she remarked.



“Luxurious lifestyle is the major reason behind diabetes after inheriting it,” the minister regretted. Commercial Counsellor of the Danish Embassy on the occasion offered his government’s support for diabetes awareness and said a special informative brochure would be provided to public hospitals. “Leadership forums would also be conducted at various levels with the help of experts,” offered Mushtaq.

Published in The Express Tribune, September 20^th, 2018.