Putting no heart into it
Sukkur’s doctors appear to have more important matters at hand than observing World Heart Day.
SUKKUR/KARACHI:
Heart diseases may claim up to 17 million lives every year, but Sukkur’s doctors appear to have more important matters at hand than observing World Heart Day.
In fact, celebrating the day is one step too far. Most of these health experts do not even know there exists such a day to create awareness about the rising number of heart-related illnesses around the world. As is the norm, people were quick to blame the government.
“The government should have notified us about this day,” complained the medical superintendent (MS) of the Ghulam Mohammad Mahar Medical College. The MS at Civil Hospital Sukkur expressed similar ignorance and then indignation when asked about their preparations for World Heart Day.
However, the Dewan Mushtaq Coronary Care Unit in Civil hospital tried to stand out among its ignorant neighbourhood. It celebrated the day with all the excitement and fervour of a single poster, which was pasted on one of its boundary walls.
Dr Raj Kumar, who was on duty at that time, admitted that the World Heart Day was important but he was honest and straight forward in his answer about the efforts taken to mark this day by saying, “We have done nothing to mark the day, no seminar, no workshop, no walk, nothing.”
The significance of a lukewarm response by medical staff can be gauged by a nurse’s response, “No, I don’t know what the day is and if my MS doesn’t know, why should I care?”
But there are many reasons to care.
Tens of thousands of people are affected by heart diseases in Pakistan. Cardiovascular diseases not only claim the lives of adults but children too are at risk of different heart-related ailments.
More than 16,000 children in Karachi only visit the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICD) for treatment.
Ten-year-old Hammad Habib is one of these thousands. The boy looks much younger and smaller than his years because of his health.
He was admitted to the NICD because two valves of his heart have been blocked since he was born. He also has a hole in his heart.
“My breathing gets unsteady when I try to run,” he said sadly, holding up his little arm which was attached to an IV, “The doctors have attached this to my arm and it really hurts.”
Hammad’s mother said he was 10 months old when they found out about his heart condition. “The doctor told us that having a hole in the heart is fairly common in children and these holes get filled as time goes on but if there are other complications, such as blocked valves, the case can become problematic,” she said.
She said that her son wanted to be a doctor but they cannot send him to school due to his unsteady health.
According to Dr Malik Hameedullah, these children can lead a normal life but only if they receive proper treatment. The parents have a very important role to play in taking care of these young hearts.
Meanwhile, Karachi too seems to be as unmoved by heart diseases as Sukkur and no major workshops or seminars took place in the city to mark the day.
The Pakistan Cardiac Society, however, went to Thatta to hold a two-day awareness camp at relief camps in the area.
Cardiovascular diseases rank among the most deadly killers in the world. Some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke include raised blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol and glucose levels.
In partnership with the WHO, the World Heart Federation organises awareness events in more than 100 countries. These events include check-ups, walks and sports tournaments.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2010.
Heart diseases may claim up to 17 million lives every year, but Sukkur’s doctors appear to have more important matters at hand than observing World Heart Day.
In fact, celebrating the day is one step too far. Most of these health experts do not even know there exists such a day to create awareness about the rising number of heart-related illnesses around the world. As is the norm, people were quick to blame the government.
“The government should have notified us about this day,” complained the medical superintendent (MS) of the Ghulam Mohammad Mahar Medical College. The MS at Civil Hospital Sukkur expressed similar ignorance and then indignation when asked about their preparations for World Heart Day.
However, the Dewan Mushtaq Coronary Care Unit in Civil hospital tried to stand out among its ignorant neighbourhood. It celebrated the day with all the excitement and fervour of a single poster, which was pasted on one of its boundary walls.
Dr Raj Kumar, who was on duty at that time, admitted that the World Heart Day was important but he was honest and straight forward in his answer about the efforts taken to mark this day by saying, “We have done nothing to mark the day, no seminar, no workshop, no walk, nothing.”
The significance of a lukewarm response by medical staff can be gauged by a nurse’s response, “No, I don’t know what the day is and if my MS doesn’t know, why should I care?”
But there are many reasons to care.
Tens of thousands of people are affected by heart diseases in Pakistan. Cardiovascular diseases not only claim the lives of adults but children too are at risk of different heart-related ailments.
More than 16,000 children in Karachi only visit the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICD) for treatment.
Ten-year-old Hammad Habib is one of these thousands. The boy looks much younger and smaller than his years because of his health.
He was admitted to the NICD because two valves of his heart have been blocked since he was born. He also has a hole in his heart.
“My breathing gets unsteady when I try to run,” he said sadly, holding up his little arm which was attached to an IV, “The doctors have attached this to my arm and it really hurts.”
Hammad’s mother said he was 10 months old when they found out about his heart condition. “The doctor told us that having a hole in the heart is fairly common in children and these holes get filled as time goes on but if there are other complications, such as blocked valves, the case can become problematic,” she said.
She said that her son wanted to be a doctor but they cannot send him to school due to his unsteady health.
According to Dr Malik Hameedullah, these children can lead a normal life but only if they receive proper treatment. The parents have a very important role to play in taking care of these young hearts.
Meanwhile, Karachi too seems to be as unmoved by heart diseases as Sukkur and no major workshops or seminars took place in the city to mark the day.
The Pakistan Cardiac Society, however, went to Thatta to hold a two-day awareness camp at relief camps in the area.
Cardiovascular diseases rank among the most deadly killers in the world. Some of the risk factors for heart disease and stroke include raised blood pressure, smoking, cholesterol and glucose levels.
In partnership with the WHO, the World Heart Federation organises awareness events in more than 100 countries. These events include check-ups, walks and sports tournaments.
Published in The Express Tribune, September 27th, 2010.