Stressing mental health: Shifa hospital takes part in awareness campaign

Shifa International Hospital (SIH) in collaboration with the Pakistan Society of Neurology organised an awareness campaign to participate in the first World Brain Day.

World Brain Day will be observed on July 22 in order to highlight the importance of brain health and prevention of brain diseases — a significantly underestimated health problem. Pakistan is also participating in the global launch of the event to promote awareness and advocacy on brain health.

SIH displayed and distributed awareness literature, comprising banners and posters, among patients on Monday to raise awareness regarding brain health. In addition to the patients, medical students, doctors and hospital staff showed their support for the event by wearing badges.

Shifa’s Consultant and Head of Neurology Department, Dr Maimoona Siddiqui, quoting WFN, stated that brain disorders including neurological and substance-use conditions amount to 13 per cent of the global burden of the disease, surpassing cardiovascular disease and cancer. Neurological diseases affecting the brain include stroke, depression, tumors, infections, Alzheimer’s disease, headaches and genetic disorders, which can be prevented if given timely treatment, according to Siddiqui.

She said an unhealthy lifestyle, such as use of tobacco, drugs and alcohol, uncontrolled blood sugar and cholesterol levels contribute to the diseases, adding a healthy lifestyle is must for a healthy brain.

SIH Professor and Consultant Neurologist, Dr Arsalan Ahmad, commended the launch of World Brain Day to aid the prevention of neurological diseases. He urged the public, general physicians and policy makers to make joint efforts for the promotion of health education, especially those related to brain disorders.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 22^nd, 2014.