Social Track, February 15, 2019

People’s right to wellness A weekly from Karachi Special focus on Friday, February 15, 2019 Vol V No 40-41 12 Pages I Rs. 30

Health Education Environment

Hospitals helpless

Leishmania patients suffer

A woman with wounds inflicted by sandfly seen at ISD Karachi.

By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Medical practitioners handling skin disorder cases in Sindh have been unable to provide primary treatments --injections containing meglumine antimoniate — to people suffering from leishmaniasis, a skin diseases caused by infected sandflies in the border districts of Sindh and Balochistan, for the past many months, it emerged last week.

Skin specialists contacted by this scribe said that they have been receiving cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis patients in considerable number, but are failing to ensure due interventions in the absence of glucantime injections which are considered the first-line treatment for such cases.

“The injection in question, recommended by World Health Organisation for management of leishmaniasis, a complex disease caused by protozoan parasites of the genus Leishmania, has never been in the purchase lists of the Sindh Health Department, but was made available through the international health agencies, nGOs or charity deeds sporadically.”

A senior doctor at the Institute of Skin Disease (ISD) Karachi said that the parasite (leishmania) transmitted to human bodies incubates for six months and then appears as a worm in the body. If not properly managed by a medical expert, small leishmania skin infection or wound may turn lethal over the passage of time.

In Sindh, the leishmaniasis phenomena, which persists in other provinces of the country too was taken as a major public health issue in 2005.

A literary research revealed that about 4,200 people were reportedly afflicted with the disease in Sindh in the first quarter of 2005 particularly in Dadu and Larkana. The other affected areas included Sukkur, Khairpur, naushehro Feroze, Shikarpur, and Jacobabad. In view of the situation the health officials had planned to import relevant medicines in tablet form for oral consumption.

On the occasion, the then Provincial Health Secretary had said, "Since the sandfly phenomenon prevails in the areas of Pakistan, Iran and India, discussions are also on for a joint action in the region to eliminate the sandfly,” It was further said that the sandfly originating from Iran traveled to Sindh via Balochistan.

Leishmaniasis Gap Analysis Pakistan – 2015 report said that a total of 26,760 new cases were recorded under DHIS during 2014 in Sindh and those included 19,403 at primary care and 7,357 at secondary care health facilities. The districts which reported the cases included Hyderabad, Sanghar, Ghotki, Khairpur, Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Sukkur, Thatta and Tando Allah Yar. Continued on page 11

XDR typhoid cases

Health dept finally makes a move

W

hile the government is still contemplating to formally engage young men in its “10 billion tree drive” by offering support and cash, people and institutions at different levels have already begun undertaking plantation to replenish the green cover of the urban and rural areas of Sindh.

KARACHI: DMC (Central) Chairman Rehan Hashmi along with Deputy Commissioner Central district, Farhan Ghani is planting a tree at Water Pump Chowrangi in Federal B Area, last week.

LARKANA: Under the theme of “Plant for Pakistan”, greenery activist from Shajar Dost Panel is planting a tree within the premises of Police Training School Larkana, last week.

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XDR Typhoid cases in Sindh (Nov 2016 -Feb, 2019)

KARACHI: Residents in some parts of Federal B Area getting dirty tap water.— ST photo

KARACHI: The Sindh Health department has finally made a moved on Extensive Drug Resistant (XDR)

Typhoid, which emerged as a major public health issue with the reporting of about 210 new cases every month across Sindh.

According to the weekly Field Epidemiology Report of the national Institute of Health (nIH), 146 new cases were reported from Karachi till February 3, followed by 67 from Hyderabad and 24 from other districts.

The XDR strain of the typhoid Salmonella in question, which is resistant to five classes of antibiotics --chloramphenicol, ampicillin, trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole, fluoroquinolones, and third-generation cephalosporins– is behind the outbreak in Pakistan that began about two and a half years back.

Continued on page 2

Page 5: ‘Stigma around insulin needs to go’ Page 8: Sepa hears report on proposed facility Page 9 SSUET and DUET confer degrees to graduates Page 7 Anrap moot calls for more studies in anti-diabetes plants

Page 11 Hamdard forum discusses water issues

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2 I nEWS

I Friday, February 15, 2019

The real truth about money

By Umme Habiba

M

oney has been accredited as the source of happiness for as long as one can remember. But after owning money, people's priorities have been changing. Their size of houses has enlarged, number of cars increased, they prefer brands over locally produced goods and a greater urge among people have been seen to join the rat race where they constantly try to prove themselves as better than the other.

People pretend to be happy while posting about their personal lives on social media but on the other hand, we see a rise in the number of depressed adolescents and young people. Clinical depression is reported to be three to ten times more than the last two generations. People today have access to more net income yet they remain unhappy.

We all hear this common sentence that money can not buy happiness but we hardly pay attention. However, its not just the rich who are depressed, studies show that poverty

is also making people depressed. Studies by Ruut Veenhoven, a sociologist at Erasmus University in Rotterdam show that the poor in Europe who earn less than $10,000 a year are rendered unhappy by the relentless frustration and stress of poverty.

Mental illnesses are just not limited to under developed countries, it is commonly found in developed countries too. Edward Diener of the University of Illinois interviewed members of the Forbes 400 richest Americans and found out that the richest 400 people of the world were only a tiny bit happier than the public as a whole.

The epidemic of mental illnesses has taken Pakistani youth by storm. Young people face fluctuating mental health as they go about with their education, work, family life and businesses.

Pakistan is ranked 7th among the most depressed countries in the world. China ranks 1st and the US ranks 3rd. Mental health going kaput means a fall in emotional investment, focus, motivation eventually leading to a fall

in standard of living, education, success and ultimate well-being of individuals.

All of this occurs behind closed doors and leaves human health in a deteriorating state.

If we are unable to provide our youth the healthy environment that they need, this can be one of our great failures. A student committing suicide reflects on how badly the society has failed its young people that they are resorting to take their own lives. There have been several cases of students committing suicide in Pakistan due to unemployment, nepotism at educational institutes and discrimination by those in power.

It is the collective responsibility of the society and its citizens to create awareness about mental illnesses and reach out to people who need help.

Depression is one of the biggest issues in our world today. With record numbers of people suffering from the dark cloud, and rising suicide rates, depression is a crippling disease which has reached epidemic proportions. The human brain is a complex and

Health dept finally makes a move Continued from page 1

Experts hold that the officially claimed number of XDR typhoid cases is not reliable as hospitals largely do not submit such details in routine to authorities concerned despite the government’s directive to submit details of patients suffering from notifiable diseases.

The nIH report says that a maximum of 8,745 Typhoid Fever cases were reported from different districts of Sindh from november 1, 2016 to Feb 03, 2019 in Sindh, out of these 5,707, including 3,937 from Karachi were found as XDR cases. The Drug Resistant cases are mostly reported from Karachi and Hyderabad districts.

“At Karachi, the highest Incidence Rate of the cases was reported from 5 towns: Gulshan-e-Iqbal, Saddar, north nazimabad, Malir, Gulberg and Liyari, while the lowest incidence was recorded in SITE town.

It is said that Salmonella typhi is transmitted from human to human by the fecal-oral route via contaminated water.

Sources in the health department said that Sindh Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra, while heading a meeting on national Action Plan on XDR Typhoid in Sindh in her office, said that in order to combat XDR Typhoid situation in Sindh a committee comprising of representatives from departments such as Live Stock, Health, Public Health Engineering, Local Government, Water Board Karachi and Wasa should be constituted.

During the meeting it was noted that XDR typhoid will make the infection difficult and impossible to treat and it may even become deadly.

“Vaccination, access to clean water, and improved sanitation are effective means of preventing typhoid," said senior physicians.

The meeting was attended by Federal DG Health Dr Arshad, Special Secretary Health Sindh nasim ul Ghani Sehto, DG Health Dr Mubeen Ahmed, WHO Consultants Dr Jamal and Dr Sara Salman among others.

The participants were told that 5,084 cases of XDR typhoid have been registered since the beginning of the outbreak in november 2016 till november 2018.

Karachi and Hyderabad districts reported the highest number of cases while sporadic cases of XDR typhoid cases were reported from other districts of the province including Mirpurkhas, Badin, Jamshoro and Sanghar.

The districts with the highest proportion of XDR cases among the S Typhi patients are Sanghar and Hyderabad. “The age-wise distribution of cases from these two districts indicates that youngest age groups are affected more than the older age groups.”

According to the report placed before the meeting, there were ten sentinel reporting hospitals for XDR cases in Karachi. In Karachi, the disease was first notified in the first week of 2017 with six cases, then extreme ups and downs in the number of cases were reported from time to time. Most of the cases were reported from Saddar, Lyari, nazimabad, Malir and Gulshan-i-Iqbal towns, but Baldia, Bin Qasim, Gadap, Gulberg, Jamshed, Keamari, Korangi, Landhi, Liaquatabad, north Karachi, Orangi, SITE and Shah Faisal towns also reported cases.

“Limited environmental testing of water quality has indicated contamination with E-coli and S-Typhi,” said a source.

The outbreak of multidrug resistant S Typhi in Hyderabad was first reported on november 12, 2016, and since then a total 1,341 XDR typhoid cases were reported from the district till november 17, 2018, while 84 per cent of the cases were aged 2 to 12 years, the review meeting was told.

Age and Gender Specific XDR Typhoid cases – Karachi (January 2017 to February 3, 2019

very delicate machine. It needs to be taken care of. It requires nourishment and looking after. There can be various reasons for a human brain to stop responding effectively and that is when a person needs help. Usually a depressed person is unable to reach out and get the help they need so it is important for everybody around the person to take care of them and provide them the help they need.

We are human beings; we are built for connection, for love and for intimacy. Psychology and sociology aside, there is final reason money can't buy happiness. The things that really matter in life are not sold in stores. Love, friendship, family, respect, communal harmony, a greater sense of purpose are essential for human fulfillment, and they cannot be purchased with cash.

Money is essential for survival but basing one's life around earning and hoarding money is a recipe for emotional discontent.

References: content.time.com; upliftconnect.com; usnews.com

Sindh may charge companies using sub-soil water

By Our Correspondent

Source: Field Epidemiology Report, NIH Islamabad After deliberations, the meeting decided to establish five diagnostic centres -- two in Karachi and three in other parts of the province.

Health Minister Dr Pechuhu also stressed engagement of polio workers to distribute awareness material on XDR Typhoid.

She remarked that water borne diseases can be eliminated through preventive measures and in this regard mass media campaign and social mobilisation can effectively reduce certain diseases.

It was also decided in the meeting that Sindh Health Care Commission should ensure implementation of laboratory SOPs, all stakeholders would coordinate, damaged pipe lines would be repaired and community engagement would also be ensured.

Environment and water assessment: In the meantime, the latest Field Epidemiology Report of the national Institute of Health (nIH) said that out of 61 water samples taken, 39 showed E.coli in high quantity and five samples showed the presence of Streptococci- I. “In 9 out of 13 (69 %) of the water samples taken from the cases' household, coliforms and/ or thermo-tolerant E.coli were isolated.

On molecular analysis using PCR on extracted DnA from 55 water samples collected from community taps S Typhi DnA was detected in 12 (21.8 %) samples,” the report concluded.

–MA

KARACHI: A meeting chaired by Sindh Chief Secretary (CS) was told last week that various water and beverage bottlers in the province were on average extracting about 3 million litres of underground water per company every day for marketing purposes without making any payment to the government.

CS Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah holds the meeting in the light of a Supreme Court’s order about charging Rupee one per litre of from mineral water companies on the water they are extracting from the ground.

Dr Muhammad Ahsan Siddique, the Convener of the committee appointed by Supreme Court and officers of Sindh Food Authority briefed the meeting regarding water extraction by the various mineral water and beverage companies. Professor Siddique said that 29,961,452 litres of water per day are being extracted by 10 companies at their 14 plants in Karachi, Hyderabad and, Sukkur.

Mr Shah observed that these companies are using very huge amount of water and are paying nothing for it.

“Collecting 1 rupee for 1 litre will help Sindh government to collect huge amount on water tariff,” he added and directed the Secretary of Industries department to collect the data of utilisation of surface water by the 3, 4 and 5-star hotels and big and small industrial units in the province.

He also asked the authorities concerned to ensure installation of water flow meters and closed-circuit cameras at the premises of the companies involved in the extraction of groundwater or utilisation of surface water for their business. The extraction will be monitored closely by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency, said a government handout.

Chief Secretary informed the meeting that as per directives of the Supreme Court a mechanism will be devised for calculation, collection and monitoring of the recovery of water charges from all major industries consuming surface or groundwater. “Secretary Local Government Khalid Hyder Shah has been nominated as the focal person in this regard.”

OPInIOn I 3

I Friday, February 15, 2019

People’s right to wellness

n

Smoking continues to affect lives

ational Health Services, Regulations and Coordination ministry in the federation issued a notification asking tobacco industries and marketers to increase the size of pictorial health warning on cigarette packets by 10 per cent, i.e. from 50 to 60 per cent. The ministry issued a new pictorial, depicting the disease Gangrene “caused by smoking” which will be printed on both sides of the cigarette packets and covers, whether manufactured or imported from the first of June, 2019.

On the occasion, the federal health minister said that Pakistani authorities were committed to reducing tobacco consumption in the country as a signatory to Framework Convention on Tobacco Control.

However, following the publication of relevant news reports, the Pakistan Medical Association reacted sharply and blamed the health ministry of slow movement. In a statement, it said that the increase in the pictorial warning size should have gone up to 85 per cent by this time, as was first decided by the government in January, 2015.

The government is progressing otherwise under the pressure of the tobacco industry, according to PMA. no doubt, government has been making amendments through statutory regulatory orders in the Cigarettes (Printing of Warning) Rules, 2009, from time to time due to expediencies best known to it.

It is a fact that like other entities the tobacco industry spares no opportunity to increase their businesses, despite knowing the adverse impacts on the health of people. Smoking scenes in the dramas; and even in talk shows are gaining momentum. Here, the government functionaries should not sit as passively as the passive smokers.

Tobacco Control Cell of the Ministry should stand by its different declared measures proactively. The Cell has banned sale of loose cigarettes, import of tobacco, non-tobacco sheesha and related substances, tobacco advertisement in print, electronic and outdoor media, cigarette packets having less than 20 cigarettes, and designated smoking areas/smoking rooms.The government should assess its various orders including the prohibition of smoking in public places and check how far those are followed.

Experts in clean-air and human health have repeatedly been declaring that cigarette smoke contains about 4,000 chemical agents, including carcinogens, carbon monoxide, tar, benzene, methanol and lead. Smoke-filled rooms have up to six times more air pollution than a busy road. They say that globally one person dies every seven seconds from smoking-related diseases. The secondhand smoke causes about 53,000 premature deaths every year.

One may say that the no-smoking culture has flourished in the country and the use of tobacco is no longer considered to be part of normal behavior, but we have failed to recognise that the cigarette has changed hands; it has gone to school-going children and under-18 teenagers. The ground realities suggest that the “ban on smoking” failed to be enforced effectively either because of lack of coordination among the departments concerned or the poor implementation of the laws.

EXCERPTS Long walk to a healthier province: LIKE millions of people across the globe, Pakistanis too will celebrate Earth Day on April 22. This day began in America in 1970 as a day to celebrate the planet and encourage people to be more environmental friendly. The theme for 2017 Day is "Environmental and Climate Literacy" and calls conservationists, researchers and educators to stay steadfast and use the day to increase awareness about climate change and environmental issues and pay attention to what is happening to our planet, rivers, lakes and air. ●

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While there is a lot of discussion about 'green economy' and how it can protect the environment, climate change, renewable energy, conservation of forests and wildlife, sustainable consumption of natural resources, it is safe to call it a luxury especially in a situation where a good number of countries around the world are unable to address basic issues of health and education of their populations in urban and rural areas.

In our case, some recent findings by a Supreme Court assigned commission on the issue of drinking water and sanitation situation has exposed the plight of hundreds of thousands of people across Sindh. The ineffectiveness of regulators and managers and their inefficient use of resources is reflected in the commissioner's report. The commission’s report revealed that the people of Sindh are neither being supplied clean water, nor is there any proper sanitation in place to save them from related ailments.

Other studies suggest that deforestation, water scarcity, soil degradation and exposure to agricultural and industrial chemicals and organic pollutants are affecting men and women in more than one ways in Sindh.

Local experts appear dejected while discussing the issues of environmental degradation and damage control efforts.

Can we come forth and pledge to address our failures and take their responsibility? There is a dire need to plan proper actions and ensure their true and timely implementation.

Social Track editorial, April 21, 2017

Health & diseases, literacy & education, ecology & environment, housing, nutrition, living and poverty, mortality & migration, women & gender empowerment, human resource, energy, water & sanitation, public utilities, public health, population parameters, labour force & employment, forest, fossil fuel, global warming, climate change, science & technology, sports & youth affairs, food & fertilizer, transport & communication, information technology, natural resources.

Too many cities are growing out rather than up

By Jillian Du and Anjali Mahendra

I

magine Lagos, nigeria, a city of 22 million. What was once a small coastal town just a few decades ago has exploded into a sprawling megacity spanning 452 square miles. Its rapid growth has stretched the city’s services impossibly thin: Less than 10 percent of people live in homes with sewer connections; less than 20 percent have access to tap water. Many houses are in slums and informal settlements at the city’s periphery.

Now picture Lagos twice as big.

Lagos is one of many cities expected to grow exponentially over the next three decades, in both population and land area. Recent estimates show that urban land area could increase 80 percent globally between 2018 and 2030, assuming constant annual growth rates. When cities spread outward instead of upward, as Lagos has, it can worsen spatial inequalities and strain economies and natural resources.

In our new World Resources Report paper, Upward and Outward Growth: Managing Urban Expansion for More Equitable Cities in the Global South, we analyzed growth patterns for 499 cities using remote sensing. While cities growing vertically through taller buildings are located predominantly in wealthier cities in north America, Europe and East Asia, cities in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia are growing mainly outward. These cities have the fewest financial resources to manage their growth but are expected to hold more than 2 billion additional people by 2050. As we know from the latest Un data, just three countries—India, China and nigeria—are expected to account for 35 percent of global urban population growth between 2018 and 2050. As these cities grow in population, continuing their unwieldy expansion outward could push them into crises.

3 consequences of unmanaged urban expansion Failure to properly manage expanding land area not only exacerbates urban inequality, it also contributes to greater economic and environmental risk for the city as a whole. From Mumbai to Mexico City, it is all-too-common to see crowded slums grow larger and denser next to unaffordable, often vacant, highrise developments. As municipal service networks fail

to keep pace with urban growth, resource-constrained cities tend to react to development trends instead of having land development agencies proactively plan for growth.

Some of the implications of this unmanaged growth include: Greater inequality: Like Lagos, many cities are already struggling with existing inequalities, inadequate service provision and stretched municipal capacities.

Unmanaged land expansion exacerbates these struggles. Lower-income families typically move to a city’s periphery in search of affordable housing. Yet the further they get from the city center, the more difficult their lives can become. Families at a city’s edge will spend twice as much money and three times as much time commuting as families closer to jobs, schools and entertainment in the city center. As a city spreads outward, local agencies often struggle to provide water, sanitation and electricity. Citizens then have to rely on informal service provision—such as private water trucks and waste collectors that can charge up to 30 times more than city agencies—or go without these services, affecting their health and overall quality of life. Only the well-off can afford these coping strategies, leaving many urban residents under-served.

Once these kinds of urban land development patterns begin, they have long-term effects on access to opportunities, productivity and quality of life.

Economic stresses for the city as a whole: Research shows that as cities expand outward and population densities decline, the municipal costs of providing public services increase. In Indian and African cities, services like paved roads, drainage and piped water drop off sharply just 5 kilometers (3 miles) from the city. The associated investments for new infrastructure and social costs of their deficit only keep climbing as new urban areas are added. Moreover, sprawl means more congestion, pollution and longer commutes.

Dirty air, mostly driven by heavy use of private cars and trucks, creates immense social and economic costs, such as health impacts and crop damage. In Chengdu, China, the economic loss from transport-related air pollution tallied $3 billion in 2013.

Continued on page 8

Ensure toxin-free milk for all

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spine-chilling report published in an English daily on Monday (Feb11) revealed that cowmilk contains several high level toxic elements like lead, pesticides and harmful chemicals that can cause cancer and other serious ailments after consumption. national Food Safety Laboratory (nFSL) findings based on a survey of samples of cow-milk, packaged milk, curd and fodder collected from 27 upazilas in four districts including Dhaka disclosed this startling fact. The laboratory had collected the samples of all brands of packaged milk from big food stores and directly from dairy farms and found the presence of pesticides, lead, chromium, tetracycline, enrofloxacin, ciprocin etc. in cow milk. In the past, The news Today also wrote about the unsafe pasteurized milk and cow milk. But the situation has not at all improved. Milk is an ideal food for children and oldies as well. Milk is the primary source of nutrition for children. But alarm bell rings when the supply of unadulterated milk runs short to meet the demand. If milk is contaminated, health of the consumers is jeopardized. The report, therefore, gives us a mighty shock as it is based on the convincing findings of no less a reputed laboratory than the nFSL. The findings lay bare the fact that at every stage from the farm to store, milk is found to be highly contaminated with bacteria, pes-

ticide, poisonous chemicals etc. The impure and dangerous milk has been consumed by people over the years. It is obvious to everyone that any contaminated food including milk damages the health of the consumers. We cannot tell exactly what an amount of harm the consumers have already suffered due to consumption of impure milk. A perturbing question, therefore, crops up-who will compensate for the damage done to their health? In any developed country the crooked people, involved in such act of contamination, are heavily penalized and pay hefty compensation. But in our country such compensation is almost unknown.

This contaminated milk containing coliform, E-coli and other toxins and viruses causes serious diseases.

Several factors are involved in the contamination of milk at the primary producers' level including the breed of the milch cow, volume of milk produced by the cow, time of milking etc. Besides, milk in market or delivered by milkmen are highly adulterated. Despite the anti- adulteration drive, people involved in milk adulteration have not yet been touched. Harsher drive should continue against milk adulteration. Strict compliance of hygienic milking process, delivery and preservation practice and strengthened monitoring at the field level must be maintained to ensure safe milk for all.

From Asia

Editorial/The News Today, Bangladesh

4 I HEALTH

I Friday, February 15, 2019

Moringa - a possible cure for major diseases: Experts

People’s right to wellness

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By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences, Prof Mohammad Saeed Quraishy has said that his university will launch an awareness campaign on medicinal and nutritional benefits of Moringa oliefera (Suhanjna trees) soon.

Speaking as the chief guest at a seminar on Moringa, he said, "We cannot resist major disease with our limited resources while ignoring the medicinal and nutritional benefits of Moringa oliefera."

The seminar was organised by the Dow College of Biotechnology on “Medicinal and nutritional Benefits of Moringa olifera” as part of a Social Integration Outreach Programme at Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan Auditorium, DUHS Ojha Campus.

DUHS VC also referred to the presence of Suhanjna trees in the old houses of Karachi and said, "This is the evidence that people in the past were also aware of the benefits of this tree." He said that the leaves of this tree can be used as herbal tea while beans can be cooked as vegetables.

Prof Anwar Gillani said that there is a market of approximately $5 billion in the world for Moringa olifera and its products. Moringa can be used to treat cancer, diabetes and ulcer while the oil extracted from its leaves can be used in pickle.

He further said that about 3.8 million people die because of frequent intake of fast food while 8 million people go to the hospitals due to side ef-

KARACHI: Vice Chancellor Prof Dr M Saeed Quraishy along with senior faculty members planting a moringa tree at DUHS Ojha campus, recently. — ST photo

fects of various medicines.

"However, there is no particular harm in using Moringa, due to its extraordinary nutritional value and food supplements," he maintained.

Dr Aisha Sana said that people in 82 countries of the world are aware of the benefits of the Moringa trees. "Moringa can cause resistance to ulcer as well as cancerous cells i.e. H-Pylori."

She further said that the importance of this tree can be well estimated through the large quantities of potassium, which is three times more than a banana, four times more calcium than milk, four times more iron than spinach, seven times more

Eliminate Hepatitis C by 2030?

Health experts say not so fast

vitamin C than oranges, and four times more vitamin A than carrots, in it.

She told the gathering that Moringa also contains zinc, magnesium and amino acids in high amounts. This plant, if used by lactating mothers could fulfill the nutritional requirements of their infants.

The seminar was attended by Pro Vice Chancellor of Dow University, Prof Dr Zarnaz Wahid, and other faculty members and students.

Later, Prof Quraishy along with Dr Anwar-ulHasan Gilani planted Moringa-oliefera in the Ojha Campus.

Grocery-store based nutrition education improves eating habits

H

n 2016, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced an ambitious plan to end the global hepatitis C virus (HCV) epidemic by 2030. Four years later, a new research paper by health experts in the United Kingdom asserts that goal is likely to be “narrowly missed.” The good news is it may be achievable by 2032 with the implementation of new tools and interventions to tackle the epidemic, Healio reports.

WHO’s stated goal—to prevent 15.1 million new HCV infections and 1.5 million hepatitis C–related deaths worldwide—was part of the United nations’ 17 Sustainable Development .

To determine whether that goal is still possible, researchers at Imperial College London created a mathematical model to project the future course of the global HCV epidemic, calibrating it to 190 countries. The study considered account demographics, the number of people who inject drugs in those countries, current coverage of hepatitis C treatment and prevention programs, HCV prevalence and data on attributable hepatitis C–related mortality.

They found that by if interventions are scaled up such that HCV transmission in non-injection drug users is reduced by 80 percent and harm reduction coverage is increased by 40 percent, 14.1 million new infections could be avoided—just 1 million short of WHO’s goal. Adding direct-acting antivirals to the mix could prevent 640,00 deaths. The researchers also found that following through with comprehensive prevention, screening and treatment interventions could avert 1.5 million deaths related to cirrhosis and liver cancer—meeting that 2030 goal but just barely missing total mortality reduction benchmarks by 4 percent.

But health experts are still optimistic about the results. “The concept of eliminating hepatitis is gaining traction with the adoption of the WHO strategy, mention of ‘combating hepatitis’ in the Sustainable Development Goals, and expansion of hepatitis services in some countries. Thus, it is encouraging that the analysis by Heffernan and colleges shows that this concept is achievable,” said Dr Stefan Wiktor, acting professor of global health in the University of Washington School of Medicine and Public Health in Seattle who wrote an editorial to accompany the study.

Study authors also estimated that implementing this strategy will not be cheap—and could cost as

ypertension affects over 60 million adults in the United States and less than half have their condition under control. A new study published in the Journal of nutrition Education and Behavior found that grocery store-based nutrition counseling was effective in changing dietary habits of patients being treated for hypertension.

"Primary care providers face multiple barriers when delivering nutrition information to patients, including lack of training on how to provide lifestyle behavior counseling combined with lack of time to interact with the patient," said lead author Dr Rosanna P Watowicz, Department of nutrition, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH, USA. "This study's aim was to evaluate the effectiveness of a nutrition counseling program provided by a registered dietitian in the familiar setting of a grocery store."

This study recruited patients from three primary care offices that were part of an urban academic medical center. Thirty adults aged 18-60 years diagnosed with hypertension participated. Study participants represented a diverse demographic in regard to sex, race, education, and employment.

Participants received individual counseling at one of three local grocery stores from two registered dietitians trained to provide lifestyle modification information based on the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension) diet.

Three counseling sessions, provided free to the patients, occurred over 12 weeks.

The first visit was 60 minutes long followed by two 30-45-minute sessions. Following each session, a recap of the visit and patient's progress towards goals were provided to the primary care provider to be included in the patient's records.

Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2010, a measure of overall diet quality compared to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Patients completed a food frequency questionnaire, documenting food and beverages consumed at least once during the previous three months, prior to beginning the study and at the end of the study. Blood pressure measurements were also taken.

Following the education, patients' eating habits significantly improved in regard to total fruit, whole fruit, greens and beans, whole grains, fatty acids, refined grains, and empty calories. Sodium, saturated fat, discretionary solid fat, and total fat intake decreased significantly as well. Intake of added sugar also decreased although not to the same extent as the other categories.

Blood pressure measurements also decreased during the study, but due to the small number of participants the differences were not statistically significant. Additionally, patients reported a high level of compliance in taking their hypertension medication as prescribed during the study.

"Providing education at the grocery store offers a convenient location on a schedule with more flexibility than a primary care office and reinforces dietary changes in the environment where food decisions are made," said Dr Watowicz.

"This strategy should be researched with other health conditions."

Courtesy: Hepmag

Courtesy: ScienceDaily

By Casey Halter

I

HEALTH I 5

I Friday, February 15, 2019

‘Stigma around insulin needs to go’

KARACHI: (Left to right) Dr Syed Abbas Raza, Dr Leszek Czupryniak and Dr Helen L Baron during the question-answer session.— ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Senior physicians and health educators from abroad stressed the need to remove misconceptions and fears among the diabetic patients in regard to the insulin therapies while talking at an event organised by a pharmaceutical company to introduce its next generation basal (long-acting) insulin glargine U300).

"The patients fear that switching to the insulin therapy causes complications like body weight gain and low blood glucose reaction. They believe that insulin treatment is a personal failure of them, which is incorrect."

Experts including Dr Leszek Czupryniak from Poland, Dr Oleg Karpove from Russia, Dr Helen L Baron from USA and Dr A H Aamir of Pakistan talked about the management of diabetes from the local perspective, clinical decision-making and im-

portance of health economics in today’s world.

A good number of leading local physicians attended the event organised by Sanofi Pakistan at a hotel, recently.

“In fact, those who suffer from type 2 diabetes and their A1C (glucose level) is creeping up, they should understand that insulin may be the next step to manage or treat their diabetes. There are long-acting insulin available that can reduce the chances of Hypoglycemia (low blood sugar),” the experts mentioned.

They highlighted the role of insulin in the management of diabetes and prevention of anxiety. It was stressed that patients should be trained to recognise early signs so that they could deal with the situation quickly.

“The new basal insulin, designed to act for over 24 hours seeks to address this unmet need to improve the control of blood

KARACHI: Dr A H Aamir delivering a presentation at the launch ceremony. — ST photo

sugar in adults living with diabetes.”

It was further said that the basal insulin in question was approved by FDA in 2015 and since then the drug has been introduced in many countries, including the US, Canada, Russia, Japan and India.

According to one speaker, the glargine U300 insulin works like the human body's natural insulin and helps control blood sugar level along with diet and exercise.

“The insulin promises stable blood sugar control throughout the day and night, offering dosage flexibility and providing empowerment to patients.”

Making a presentation titled “An insulin of today for a steady tomorrow”, Dr Leszek Czupryniak, professor at the Department of Diabetology and Internal Medicine, Medical University of Warsaw, Poland said, “About 50% of people living with diabetes remain uncontrolled. Despite the proven efficacy of insulin, ensuring ef-

Experts call for increased emergency surgeries

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Speakers noted that Pakistan’s four out of seven leading death causes can be reduced through access to timely, safe and affordable surgeries at different points of a person’s life. Yet, most hospitals outside the country’s

Dr Sadaf Khan

major cities lack the infrastructure, trained surgeons and anesthetists, as well as systems to treat these common diseases and conditions.

The speakers at Aga Khan University’s 4th Annual four-day surgical conference "Global Surgery: Bridging the Gap" told that poor Pakistanis, especially those

living in rural areas, face challenges in access to emergency surgical and anesthesia care.

Conference chair Dr Sadaf Khan said, “Pakistan suffers from widespread disparities in surgical care caused by geographic, socioeconomic and political dynamics.”

She, an associate professor of sur-

fective titration and maintenance can be a challenge – mostly due to the risk of hypoglycemia."

According to him, Insulin glargine U300 takes the benefits of insulin to the next level thus, providing physicians a better tool to empower their diabetic patients, offering them insulin with lowest risk of hypoglycemia and being safest in reaching optimal glucose control.

Asim Jamal, the Country Chair & General Manager of Sanofi Pakistan emphasised, "We have been empowering people living with diabetes in Pakistan for over 50 years through oral therapies and for over a decade with insulin therapies."

“It is our endeavor to bring innovative solutions to patients to improve their health while our team of dedicated diabetes educators strive to empower people with diabetes to manage their condition efficiently and live active lives,” he added.

gery at AKU, continued, “these intricate and interlinked challenges are key contributors to the annual backlog of surgical procedures and call for researchers, practitioners, academics and policymakers to come together to develop interdisciplinary, innovative solutions.”

Speakers highlighted that the country’s national Health Vision 2016-2025 strategy doesn’t mention the role of surgery and anesthesia in achieving public health goals. According to the World Journal of Surgery, the country has an annual deficit of 17 million simple and lifesaving surgeries which can enhance people’s quality of life.

Experts cited The Lancet Commission on Global Surgery’s recommendation of two-hour accesses or the availability of a hospital that can conduct emergency surgeries within two hours.

This is particularly important in the case of cardiac illnesses, or cases of life-threatening bleeding often caused by road traffic accidents.

Speakers emphasised that district hospitals across the country must have the facilities, processes, systems, and manpower to conduct 44 emergency and essential procedures noted in the World Health Organisation’s Disease Control Priorities Edition 3. If a hospital is able to perform three procedures: the emergency exploration of the abdomen, cesarean section, and treatment of open bone fractures then it will have the capability to conduct 28 emergency surgeries.

Once these facilities are available, hospitals can then focus on the remaining 16 essential procedures that have the greatest impact on reducing mortality and morbidity.

The conference included a policy debate on the need for the country to expedite development of its first-ever national Surgical, Obstetric, and Anesthesia Plan.

As many developing countries had developed and implemented such plans which highlight existing strengths and weaknesses, and enable stakeholders to prioritise steps that can raise the overall performance of the health system.

Dr Sadaf Khan also stated that the health-related Sustainable Development Goals call for specific measures to reduce maternal deaths as well as casualties caused by road traffic accidents.

These targets cannot be met without enhancing access to quality surgical and anesthesia care.

Fourteen workshops were held before the event which saw international and national experts work with surgeons and anesthesiologists from across Pakistan to build capacity in essential and emergency procedures relevant to global surgery, said a press release.

"The conference hosted a hackathon which brought together professionals from diverse fields to develop new ideas and implementable solutions to solve longstanding problems in the field."

6 I SPECIAL REPORT

Runners celebrate peaceful Karachi KARACHI: Men and women of different ages from various walks of life in large numbers ran the marathon on roads close to Moin Khan Stadium (MKS) in DHA Karachi on a cool winter morning earlier this month.

The athletes including amateur runners started out from MKS while passing through Do Darya, E8 and Seaview and finished back at the Stadium. Successful male runners covered a distance of 10km while females covered an area of 5km.

The race titled Commissioner Karachi City Marathon was not a standard 42-km marathon, but had all the flavours and colours of a ceremonial event, with food, drinking water, and soft drinks available on stalls established for the runners. Stations were set up by the organisers to provide medical facilities to the participants. Differently-abled persons also joined the marathon on wheelchair.

The organisers including the commissioner offices, government agencies and sponsor organisations called the event as the revival of the annual marathon, which used to be held in the heart of the city many years back. Some of the old participants shared that the commissioner marathon was held after a gap of over 25 years. Sindh

I Friday, February 15, 2019

Other positioned were : Above-30 men’s 10km race – Isa Paryal (Second) and Imran Athar (Third).

Above-30 women’s 5km race – Kaukab Sarwar (Second) and Razia Soomro (Third).

Under-29 men’s –Ali Hasan (First), Mohammad Amjad Bilal (Second) and Mohammad Asghar (Third).

Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah was the chief guest of a related ceremony held within MKS to distribute prizes among the winners of different categories of the marathon.

On the occasion, CM Shah said that the holding of marathons, which involved citizens from Karachi and outside, was a way to celebrate a peaceful Karachi; the peace restored in Karachi has given boost to sports, arts and crafts, literary and other healthy activities.

“This year five PSL matches will be played in the city which shows the confidence of the international communities in Karachi,” he said.

Sindh Home Secretary Kazi Kabir,

Under-29 women – Farah (First), Razia Bano (Second) and Maria Malik (Third).

Under-19 boys – Amir Abbas (First), Sajjad (Second) and Arbab Tanvir (Third).

Commissioner Karachi Iftikhar Shalwani, government officials, senior citizens, veteran athletes and sportsmen were also present at the ceremony.

The marathon race was won by Haroon Gill in the above-30 men’s category, while Hira Dewan finished first in above-30 women’s category.

Unnder-19 girls – Sehrish (First), Ayesha Yamin (Second) and Esha Affan (Third).

In the meantime, Karachi Commissioner said that the event was conducted like a festival and it would be a regular feature in the years to come. The event was aimed at promoting a soft image of Pakistan as a peaceloving country and boosting the talent of Karachi’s youth.

–News Desk

Photos courtesy: Commissioner's office

SPECIAL REPORT I 7

I Friday, February 15, 2019

ST photos

N At U R A L R E M E D y

KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, KU VC Prof M Ajmal Khan and other dignitaries at the inaugural session of the Anarp conference at KU, recently. — ST photo

Anrap moot calls for more studies in anti-diabetes plants KARACHI: According to scientists, diabetes is among the major health challenges and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. There is no cure for diabetes while some 625 million people are reported to have diabetes globally. They strongly recommended the need for large scale efforts to prevent the occurrence of the onset of diabetes. national and international scientists made these recommendations at the three-day international seminar on “From Plant to Patient: Identification of new Drugs for Metabolic Disorders”, which was

held at the International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences (ICCBS), University of Karachi, recently.

Under the aegis of Asian network of Research on Anti-Diabetic Plants (Anrap), Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD) of KU organised the global science moot in which around 350 national and foreign experts, including 70 foreigners from 23 countries, participated.

ICCBS Director Prof Iqbal Choudhary stressed to make efforts and stop the occurrence of the

onset of diabetes. He also highlighted scientific research on herbal plants, which are being used for the treatment of diabetes.

Anrap Chairman Prof Mosihuzzaman said that natural products are important sources of new drugs in all major disease areas, including metabolic disorders.

He informed, “The network is organising international and national seminars, workshops and symposia in the relevant fields since its inception.” Also, Anrap was set up to coordinate research efforts in the field of anti-diabetic plant materials with enormous flo-

ral resources of the Asian subcontinent.

Foreign experts pointed out that the medicinal value of Asian plants had been known since centuries but proper measure to harness their potential is still in infancy. Remedial plants are an enormous source for the development of new medicines to fight against main diseases.

Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman, former chairman HEC and federal minister for science and technology, said nations are not built by investing in infrastructure only, but by their ability to unleash the creative potential of youth and using the talent of their for socio-economic development.

He said, “In order to transition from a low value-added agricultural economy to a knowledgable economy, the three major players that need to come together are universities, industry, and government.”

A panel of experts

Prof Dr Atta-ur-Rahman

National and international delegates

Prof Iqbal Choudhary

Bangladeshi scientist Dr Begum Rokeya observed that medicinal plants played a significant role in global health as dependence on natural products and herbal medicines for managing diabetes mellitus was an age-long practice on earth.

The US-based scholar, Prof Dr Rafat A Siddiqui said, “People used plants for medicine long before pure chemicals were manufactured in laboratories,” He further said that evidence from the Middle Eastern grave site indicated that neanderthal man consuming plant specimens as long as 50,000 years ago are still in use today as medicinal plants.”

Dr Rafat stated an analysis into the sources of new drugs from 1981 to 2007 reveals that almost half of the drugs approved since 1994 were based on natural products.

Continued on page 8

8 I EnVIROnMEnT / EnERGY

I Friday, February 15, 2019

Sepa hears report on proposed facility

KARACHI: A consultant giving details of a proposed healthcare complex in Gulshan-iIqbal area during a public hearing arranged by Sepa, recently. — ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The proponents of a 370-bed healthcare facility planned over 1.44 acre of land near nipa roundabout in Gulshan-iIqbal, Karachi told the participants of a statutory public hearing related to the project that they will provide more information shortly to authorities, particularly in reference to the medical and infectious waste management and parking issues.

The public hearing was conducted by the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) on an environmental impact assessment (EIA) report of the project in question with the agency’s director Dr Ashiq Ali Langha in the chair, recently.

Participants coming from various professional backgrounds and rights-based organisations were told that a ground plus 20-floor tertiary care hospital will be developed by private dealers and it will be according to international healthcare standards.

In regard to the availability of utilities for the construction and operational phase, the proponents mentioned that no fresh permissions were needed as the project will replace another private hospital which is now demolished on the site.

“The new project is owned entirely by a new group who is in a position to use old nOCs from utilities like, power, water and gas but certainly size of different connections will have to be upgraded.”

The project will have a two-layer basement and ground-plus 20 floor structures to house clinical services, car parking facilities for about 300 cars, nursing staff accommodations, 370 beds for intensive care wards, day care and dialysis patients, 13 operation theatres, 84 outdoor patients departments, radiation therapy, academic facilities, emergency departments and executive health check, mother and child departments, laboratories, reverse osmosis plant, and waste water recycling among others.

In addition to questioning about the traffic flow situation in the vicinity of the project, consumption of water and electricity, ambient air quality and load on sewers and water lines, the participants were pertinent about the scientific disposal of solid waste as well as medical waste. Deliberating on accommodation of vehicles in the operational phase of the hospital, they also noted that a project of this nature will attract more and more patients in its OPDs, in addition to the routine admitted patients and visits of their relatives to the hospitals, and

KARACHI: Participants attending the hearing. — ST photo

ultimately the brunt will be endured by the surrounding roads and service roads, as the hospital will not have the capacity to accommodate all the vehicles related to it.

The participants including Sepa officers also noted that the proponents lacked in informing about the establishment of incinerator plant for the purpose of any scientific disposal of the hospital and infectious wastes generated by the hospital.

Following which the proponent side remarked, “Initially, we had been contemplating to use the medical waste burning of the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation, but later realised the need of having our own incinerators."

Sohail A Siddiqi, who headed the team of proponents of the project said that the project cared about the environmental issues and related laws and that is why the hospital will have its exclusive medical waste treatment system, details of which would be furnished to Sepa in due course of time.

“We will also give extra attention to the parking issue and ensure that things are managed in a consumer and environment friendly way,” Siddiqi said. He mentioned that the project may procure some additional lands for extension of the parking facility and establishment of incinerators' operations

in future.

On the occasion, senior Sepa officials told the forum that the provincial environmental watchdog was very mindful of the issues of commercialisation of residential and amenity plots which are overburdening the existing utilities and traffic situation.

They also said that Sepa with the consent of higher authorities has decided to hold the recently filed EIA reports of various projects for some time.

"We have sought meetings with various land-holding agencies and utility authorities to evolve a mechanism and checklists that could address public and expert concerns over the role of utility services, building controllers and the agency as well," said Mr Langha.

Earlier, EMC Project Manager Saquib Ejaz in his presentation said that the environmental management plan said the project will address all the potential impacts, including hospital waste management, waste water treatment, air emission controls and health and safety issues. “The project is not expected to have long-term significant or irreversible negative environmental impacts neither in the construction nor in the operational phases, Mr Ejaz maintained.

Too many cities are growing Anrap moot calls... out rather than up

Continued from page 7

Continued from page 3

Environmental problems: Globally, the rate of urban land growth far outpaces population growth. This often comes at a cost to prime agricultural land, ecosystem services and biodiversity, which all contribute to food production and climate resilience. Already, we are seeing some of the fastest-growing urban areas in low-elevation coastal zones, flood plains, biodiversity hotspots and water-stressed areas.

Rampant development in these sensitive ecosystems can further strain natural resources and lead to disastrous flooding from seasonal monsoons in many South Asian cities. Unregulated well-digging in cities such as Mexico City, Bangalore and Jakarta, which are growing outward rapidly and have little piped water and high water stress, is causing whole neighborhoods to sink.

It’s particularly troubling in Jakarta, where experts say that factoring in sea level rise, the city has only a decade to halt its sinking before millions of homes end up underwater.

Reining in unmanaged expansion These impacts are compounded by the fact that most outward growth currently underway in Africa and South Asia is unplanned and informal, or in locations where existing urban land use regulations do not apply. Some of this expansion is outside of cities’ control, considering natural population increases and people migrating from rural to urban areas in search of economic opportunities. But other challenges are things cities can more proactively manage.

For example, distorted land markets can lead to speculative and fragmented development, where private landowners, real estate developers and corrupt public officials disproportionately benefit from rising land values. Weak planning, ineffective land-use regulations and certain market conditions are known to fuel expansion, relegating affordable housing to unserviced or poorly serviced locations at a city’s periphery.

And haphazard conversion of farmland and absorption of peripheral vil-

lages result in informal settlements or slums that are disconnected from city services.

Though a daunting challenge, some cities are already using innovative approaches to prioritize accessibility and manage urban expansion. Cities in Mexico, Brazil and South Africa are directing new development to already well-serviced and connected areas, instead of spreading outwards. Cities in Colombia, South Korea and India have been incrementally adding new land in well-connected and serviced locations by partnering with public utilities and private companies to help with financing. Many cities are also working with communities in informal settlements to create affordable density with more flexible planning standards and upgrading efforts.

The impacts of land-use policy changes in a city can last for many decades. Cities in Africa and Asia have a choice: Start managing unsustainable outward expansion today, or see problems worsen tomorrow.

Turkish scientist Prof Dr Bilge Sener delivered her talk on ‘Legal Requirements for the Evidence-Based Development of Herbal Medicines’.

Sindh Provincial Minister for Health and Population Welfare Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho said that Sindh government has introduced a new bill "Sindh Injured Persons’ Compulsory Medical Treatment" in the provincial assembly to offer medical assistance and treatment to an injured person before completion of medico-legal formalities.

The lady health minister said that the country’s health care system would not be able to handle the global epidemic of diabetes. It is important that we not only focus our efforts on the prevention of diabetes but also develop science-based natural remedies which can help the suffering population.

She informed the gathering that her department is working with Prof Iqbal Choudhary and his team towards the establishment of a new center for regenerative medicine, which will help in translating the existing stem cell research into clinical applications. “This first-ever regenerative medicine center in Pakistan will have a large GMP facility for the large-scale production of stem cells for the treatment of burn patients,” she added.

Deputy-High Commissioner Bangladesh at Karachi, noor-e Helal Saifur Rahman, KU, Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan, Chinese scholar Prof Dr Wei Wang, Prof Dr Barry noller from Australia, Dr Imtiaz Bashir of Dr Panjwani Memorial Trust, Dr Asmat Salim, Dr Hafizur Rahman, Malaysian Scholar Prof Dr Khozirah Shaari, Indian Scholar Prof Dr Banasri Hazra and other experts also spoke at the moot.

Courtesy: WRI

— JA

EDUCATIOn I 9

I Friday, February 15, 2019

SSUET and DUET confer degrees to graduates

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail addressing the DUET convocation.— ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Over 1,400 degrees were conferred to graduates of various engineering programmes at convocations of Sir Syed University of Engineering and Technology (SSUET) and the Dawood University of Engineering and Technology (DUET), recently.

SSUET handed out 1,000 degrees to graduating students of various engineering programmes in the presence of Sindh Governor Imran Ismail, the chief guest, who also gave out medals to meritorious graduates.

Congratulating the outgoing students, Governor Ismail in his speech mentioned that it has been a source of pleasure to see female students dominating the list of graduates, but at the same he felt sorry for the fact that a majority of the girls remain limited in pursuing a professional carrier due to social limitations and familial demands.

"We need to change the concept and ensure better professional opportunities in the case of girl graduates also," he remarked.

The convocation held at the Karachi Expo Centre was attended by a number of educationists, scholars, dignitaries including the faculty and students.

Provincial Minister for Works and Services Syed nasir Hussain said that higher education broadened the vision and prepared students to face the challenges of life and hardships. “Many of you will enter the practical life by joining industries and other ventures, while some of you may proceed to undertake research works as well.”

He said that the Sindh government which has already allocated a two-acre plot to SSUET in the Education City will also ensure building of a hostel block for the university students with modern facilities there.

SSUET Vice-Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Afzal Haq said that the teach-

KARACHI: SSUET graduates during conferment of degrees. — ST photo

ers and parents have played a lot in creating potential graduates for Pakistan's economy.

Chancellor of the university, Jawaid Anwar said that the SSUET was planning to introduce modern courses like blockchain technology in near future along with establishing a digital library connected to HEC's online library with modern facilities.

An Assistant Professor at SSUET, Amber Asrar was awarded a PhD degree during the convocation which was 22nd of its kind. Those who were given gold medals for securing first position included Fariha Mehak (Computer Engineering), Tahir Jamal (Electronic Engineering), Muhammad Burhan (Biomedical Engineering), Maira nasir (Civil Engineering), Sana Ameen (Telecommunication Engineering), Mehak Kanwal (Electrical Engineering), Quratuain Khalid (Computer Science), Muhammad Sufyan (Software

Engineering), Mohsin Ali (Bioinformatics) and Subaiyal Ahmad (Architecture).

On the other hand, as many as 404 graduates were conferred degrees and certificates at the sixth convocation of DUET, among them were the recipients of 4 gold and 9 silver medals for their outstanding success in the exams.

Muslim Ali got two gold medals while Alina Saif and Muhammad Irfan Khan received one each. Those who secured second and third positions in their respective departments received merit certificates.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail along with Chairman of Engro Corporation Hussain Dawood awarded gold and silver medals to the meritorious students.

In his speech, the Governor congratulated the graduates and noted that the country had produced great brains and the outgoing students owed a lot the country and it was their payback time.

Szabul to introduce new campus next year

By Our Correspondent

KARACHI: Minister for Local Government Saeed Ghani speaking at Iqra University's job fair, recently. — ST photo

‘IU’s step to reduce unemployment’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: A job fair and Business startup expo were organised

by Iqra University. Vice Chancellor of IU, Prof Dr Wasim Qazi informed that around 300 companies are offering 3,000 jobs to students of IU. Minister of Local Bodies Sindh Saeed Ghani at the inauguration of Job Fair and Business Startup Expo appreciated the efforts of IU and suggested other universities to follow their footsteps.

He said, “We must provide technical training to our students in collaboration with the private sector for the eradication of unemployment. If varsities like Iqra University are providing employment opportunities to students apart from degrees, it’s a win-win situation for our country.”

Minister for Works and Services nasir Hussain Shah also visited the job fair and said, “Iqra University is doing a great job which will help in reducing the issue of unemployment.”

He also informed about PPP leadership’s immediate direction to work on water issue which is in progress on various projects including Desalination plant.

Advisor to CM Sindh on Sports, Youth Affairs and Industries, Sardar Muhammad Baksh Khan Mahar, said that the private sector plays a pivotal role in uplifting country’s economy. “I am delighted to be a part of Iqra University’s event, here students don’t have to wait for jobs, and jobs are coming to them in their university.”

Chief Secretary Sindh Syed Mumtaz Ali Shah was also present at the occasion.

KARACHI: Teaching sessions at the main campus of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto University (Szabul) in Koarngi will start in January 2020. This was stated by the vice-chancellor of ZABUL, Justice (retd) Qazi Khalid Ali, to a delegation from the University of northampton (Uon) during its visit to the site of under-construction main campus of the university which has been operating in the Clifton area since its inception. After shifting of the university to the main campus, named Shaheed Benazir Bhutto (SBB) campus, the enrolment of the university could rise to 2,100 from the existing 1,600.

Szabul VC informed the members of the visiting delegation that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah wanted SBB campus in question completed by December 2019 while the university administration had planned to start the classes by January 2020.

The delegation comprised of Vice Chancellor Prof nick Petford, Dean of Health Sciences Prof Dr Steve o’ Brien and Dean foreign Partnerships Professor Hastings Mackenzie of the Uon. Szabul Registrar Syed Sharaf Ali Shah and Director Finance Amir Bashir were also present, while the delegation was taken around the structures and apprised of the details of its area, number of rooms and the facilities.

KARACHI: The University of Northampton delegation, accompanied by Vice Chancellor Qazi Khalid Ali, visiting Shaheed Benazir Bhutto campus of Szabul in Korangi area. — ST photo

Qazi Khalid further said that the main campus structure was being completed at a cost of about Rs1,146 million provided by the Sindh government. “Besides providing finances for the main campus the Sindh government has also provided Rs94 million for construction of 8 additional class rooms and an auditorium with a capacity of 350 people at the city campus.”

He continued that the federal government has also approved a Rs759 million project for construction of girls and boys hostels,

telephone exchange, tuc shop, clinic, bank, staff residences and provision of transport facilities. “Out of the said approved PC-1, Rs20 million have already been released for purchase of two luxury buses for the students.”

The members of the delegation expressed their satisfaction over the present and planned facilities at the law university and hoped the Szabul would bring about radical improvements in the present law education system, according to a communication of the university.

10 I ROUnD-UP

I Friday, February 15, 2019

KARACHI: DMC Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi with the representatives of various Japanese companies who met him in his office, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: Mayor Wasim Akhtar with the office bearers and members of the Korangi Association of Trade and Industry during his visit to the association's office, recently.— ST photo

KARACHI: President Rice Exporters' Association Safdar Hussain presenting a shied to Sindh Governor Imran Ismail who visited the association, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: DUHS VC Prof M Saeed Quraishy inaugurating a food science laboratory of the School of Public Health at the Ojha campus, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: Chairperson of Sindh Commission for Women Rights, Nuzhat Mujahid presenting the commission's publications to the Karachi Commissioner Iftikhar Shalwani, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: The runners-up team of Science Quiz competition organised by the Pakistan Science Society receiving the trophy from the chief guest Hafiz Nasimuddin, recently. — ST photo

nEWS I 11

I Friday, February 15, 2019

Hamdard forum discusses water issues

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: In a meeting of Shura Hamdard held on the theme: “Construction of dams and the reduction in the use of water is mandatory”, and chaired by Justice (Rtd) Haziqul Khairi, recently, speakers urged the government to chalk out and implement a comprehensive national policy for domestic and industrial use of water.

The chief guest, Dr Muhammad Bashir Lakhani suggested water consumption evaluation on all levels to ascertain the large consumer and to charge the cost of water as per consumption.

According to him, the agriculture sector is the largest consumer of the water. “After Tarbela dam the country has not been able to construct any large dam to create a large water reservoir” he continued, “we have lost three rivers as a result of the Indus Water Basin Treaty of 1960. If recycled water is used domestically and commercially it would cost half for the consumers, therefore, installation of RO plants is the need of the hour.”

Dr Bashir, also an expert in water and power issues, emphasised

KARACHI: An expert in Water and Power Dr Muhammad Bashir Lakhani addressing the Shura meeting.— ST photo

on desalination, repairs of water pumps, the lining of irrigation canals and stopping of water theft for the conservation of water and asked the politicians to refrain from doing politics on water as the dams and hydro-power were the answer to the country’s water and energy woes.

Justice (Rtd) Haziqul Khari while insisting on the construction

of new dams and use of recycled water appreciated former chief justice of Pakistan’s efforts in the collection of funds and his efforts to create awareness among the nation.

Engineer Pervez Sadique suggested installation of RO plants along with the construction of houses because recycling is the best way for the conservation of water

and it is being done everywhere in the world. He asserted, “Price of water should be fixed and be charged according to consumption of water.”

Prof Dr Shakil Farooqui while highlighting the Indus Water Treaty of 1960 said Pakistan got the double quantity of water, but at the same time India was allowed to use water for creating electricity and other pur-

poses.

He also mentioned 3-member Pakistani delegation visit to India to account the projects recently, but nothing has been reported publicly, “all matter should be brought to the knowledge of the nation” he also suggested, “at least a big lake should be built in every city to accumulate water particularly rainy water.”

Commodore (Rtd) Sadeed Anwar Malik highlighted the rapid growth in the population of the country; “we should economise the use of food and water and control the birthrate. All technologies of drip spray and pipe irrigation are available in the world, only we should have to take them and use them to solve our problems and for population control, we have to spread education and empower the women.”

Shamim Kazmi, Huma Baig, Ibn Hasan Rizvi, Dr Abubakr Sheikh, Anwar Aziz Jakartawalla, Mussarrat Akram, Usman Damohi and Brigadier (Rtd) Riazul Haq also spoke at the event.

Shura also congratulated Sadia Rashid, who was also present in the meeting, on receiving the civil award from the Emperor and Government of Japan.

Leishmania patients suffer Continued from page 1

It was noted in the report in question that the satisfaction level of the patients about availability of Leishmania treatment at health facilities was low (40%) and that was mainly because of non-availability of drugs. “Limited and interrupted availability of drugs is the major cause of delays in treatment and dropouts from the treatment.”

It was further said that the prevention practices at community level are relatively low among Leishmania patients and community (32% and 39%) respectively. “nonaffordability of bed-nets or repellents and poverty is identified as major reasons for not adopting the preventive measures.”

When Social Track contacted an officer concerned at the Directorate of Health Services Hyderabad, Dr Waqar Memon, he did not turn up positively and said that any update can not be given at the moment. He maintained that a consolidated report including the cases presented at the tertiary

care health settings may be provided by the Sindh Malaria Control Programme (MCP).

However, an officer heading the MCP, Dr Abbas Gopang estimated that about 1,200 cases of Leishmania were reported in 2018, involving districts like Sukkur, Shaheed Benazirabad, Larkana, Dadu, Shikarpur, nawabshah and Qambar.

Independent doctors, however, stressed the need to review holistically the case reporting mechanism as under reporting of Leishmania cases and the actual disease burden might be worse than is being reported. "Our district health information system needs to be activated and the mandatory reporting through DHIS should also be improved to avert the under-reporting and under-estimation of various diseases including Leishmaniasis in Sindh.

Skin Specialists and Director of ISD, Karachi Dr Qamar Iqbal Chandio confirmed that glucantime injection was not available at his hospital, which received about 400 new patients coming from Dadu, Larkana and hilly areas of Sindh, Winder of Balochis-

tan in 2018. normally, once a patient is diagnosed with Leishmaniasis positive, he or she should be administered glucantime injection as first line treatment. “In the absence of that we do try other options, but results are not satisfying," he replied to a question.

He further said ISD used to arrange the first line injection from donors in the past, which is not possible now as the medicine is not available in the market. “I imagine that the marketers concerned have diverted the product in question to some other countries,” he added, saying that health authorities are being moved to induct glucantime in its next centralised purchase of medicines including the essential ones.

Another doctor said that though the skin disorder in question was not fatal but it inflicted dreadful wounds and lifelong scaring, leaving behind the chances of social stigma for the patients. "There is a need to ensure the due treatment, otherwise the infection will continue aggravating and may lead to development of ulcers," he added.

Woud developed in a leishmania patient Photos courtesy: Dr Farhan Mir, ISD Karachi

ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi with the students of Sindh Madressatul Islam University Karachi, who under the leadership of their VC Prof Muhammad Ali Sheikh, met him in the presidency, recently.

People’s right to wellness

Friday, February 15, 2019

‘Help special children become effective part of society’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Special Assistant to CM Sindh on Department of Persons with Disabilities, Syed Qasim naveed Qamar said that God has created some children differently and they are a part of our society. “It is our collective duty to encourage them to become an effective part of the society,” he said this while visiting the JS Academy for the Deaf at Sindhi Muslim Housing Society, recently.

On this occasion Syed Qasim took great interest in the activities of the deaf children

and assured the administration of the academy of his full support. He said that the Sindh government was fully committed in bringing positive change in the lives of the specially abled children and many institutions are working under Sindh government to facilitate these children. He asked all the stakeholders to come forward to work together for these children to make them an effective member of the society so they can live their lives independently.

Mr Qamar was received by the Principal, who showed him various sections of the Academy.

Printed at Maz Prints and published by Mukhtar Alam Khan for Mak News Network, R-331, Block 20, F. B. Area, Karachi. email: socialtrackpk@gmail.com. Phone: 021-36366759