Social Track, December 14, 2018

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‘Gas project to increase fuel security in the country’

‘DUHS graduates to lead toward betterment’

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People’s right to wellness A weekly from Karachi

Special Focus on

Friday, December 14, 2018 Vol V No 31-32 12 Pages I Rs. 30

Health Education Environment

Medical waste disposal in tatters

By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Despite lapse of considerable time following relevant legislation, management of health-care waste including pathological and infectious material, sharps, and chemical wastes is largely a neglected sector in Karachi and other parts of Sindh as the quarters concerned including environmental watchdogs and respective waste managers have been failing to ensure safe environment for people, it emerged last week.

The application of administrative aspects is insufficient, apprehended an expert in environmental issues, adding that apart from Karachi the problem of improper disposal of hospital and medical wastes is visible in Hyderabad, Jamshoro, Nawabshah, Larkana, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.

“Neither the district municipal bodies and cantonment boards, nor the solid waste management board have any up-to-the-mark action plan as far as promotion of safe hospital waste management practices are concerned,” said the expert.

Medical waste, due to its content of hazardous substances, including pathological and infectious material, sharps, and chemical

wastes, poses serious threats to environmental and public health.

Researchers maintain that in hospitals, different kinds of therapeutic procedures -- cobalt therapy, chemotherapy, dialysis, surgery, delivery, resection of gangrenous organs, autopsy, biopsy, para-clinical test, injections -are carried out which result in the production of infectious wastes, sharp objects, radioactive and chemical wastes. “Medical waste may carry germs of diseases such as hepatitis B and AIDS.” According to the World Health Orgnisation report released in February 2018, out of the total waste generated by health-care activities, about 15% is considered hazardous material that may be infectious, toxic or radioactive.

“Every year an estimated 16 billion injections are administered worldwide, but not all of them are properly disposed of afterwards.”

WHO warns that open burning and incineration of health care wastes can, under some circumstances, result in the emission of dioxins, furans, and particulate matter.

According to an estimate, there were over 4,000 big and small public and private hospitals, health centres, laboratories, maternity homes and clinics in Karachi, which generated

‘Improper disposal of medical waste should be checked.’ — ST photo

about 30 tonnes of hazardous waste daily. “An estimated health care waste is generated at the rate of 0.3 to 0.7 kg per patient every day.”

A source privy to the development said that hardly 10% of the hospitals with 5 to 30 beds, clinics, diagnostic centres, maternity homes and physicians-blocks are availing any reputed facility for scientific disposal of medical waste or have their own so-called waste burning system.

Dr Qaiser Sajjad, Secretary, Pakistan Medical Association, said that medical waste has not received much attention in Pakistan. “In the absence of any effective safe disposal mechanism, such waste is disposed off with

domestic waste, which is deadly as poor scavengers including women and children collect syringes, needles, saline bags, and blood bags, for reselling.”

He further said that medical waste presented a high risk to doctors, nurses, technicians, sweepers, hospital visitors and patients.

“Improper medical waste management is alarming in Karachi and it poses a serious threat to public health.” He adds that there is a need to revisit the measures taken so far and evolve strategies involving the education, health, information, local government, public Continued on page 11

Polio eradication: still a daydream KARACHI: As far as the eradication of polio is concerned, Sindh failed to attain the 95 per cent coverage set under the National Emergency Plan for Eradication of Polio 2017-18.

The National Emergency Action Plan (Neap) 2018-2019 report which is available online, while citing the independent third party post-campaign monitoring (PCM) data, said that no province was

able to consistently attain the targets throughout the Neap year, July 2017 to June 2018. In Sindh, the coverage was more than 90pc for six of the 10 campaigns including five National Immunization Days (NIDs) and five Subnational Immunization Days (SNIDs) in Sindh.

The proportion of children missed from vaccination campaigns declined dramatically to

approximately 3pc at the beginning of 2016. That number has gradually increased in the last two years and is now at approx 6pc in the country.

Under-performance was also observed in Sindh's Larkana, Sukkur, and Shaheed Benazirabad divisions. Although positive gains were observed in the second half of the year, Shaheed Benazirabad and Sanghar districts however,

continued to show sub-par performance.

Moreover, according to the report, essential immunisation remained well below acceptable levels in the highest-risk districts.

Despite all the investment, extremely low coverage in Killa Abdullah, Pishin, Quetta, Khyber, and Gadap town was observed.

Continued on page 2

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2 I NEWS

I Friday,December 14, 2018

ST photos Out going students

KARACHI: IU Chancellor Erum Lakhani and Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Qazi Waseem presenting the shield to Sindh Governor Imran Ismail during the convocation, recently.

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: About 800 students were awarded degrees in various programmes of Iqra University including the Media Sciences, Computer Sciences, Telecommunication Engineering, Electronics Engineering, Fashion & Textile Design, Education and Business Administration. The graduates belonged to Bachelors, Masters, MPhil and Ph.D programmes.

Sindh Governor Imran Ismail addressing the audience as the chief guest at the Annual Convocation 2018 of Iqra University said,

“Education can reduce poverty and social injustice by providing resources and opportunities to the underprivileged for upward social mobility and social inclusion. Education also increases access to social and economic opportunities, participation in political processes and promotion of democratic practices, all of which are essential ingredients in promoting human development.”

He further said, "Strong nations build their own pathways and struggle to achieve their goals no matter how difficult the circumstances are. This day is itself an emblem

800 degrees awarded at IU convocation

of the fact that the Pakistani nation is struggling to equip its youth with the power of knowledge”.

The Vice Chancellor of the University Professor Dr Wasim Qazi thanked the Governor for gracing the occasion and addressed the audience. “We are in the process of launching our own Massive Online Open Courses platform, which will help students acquire the skill set to improve their professional and personal capabilities.”

While addressing the graduates, he emphassed that they are among the fortunate five per cent people in the country who

Countries en route to developing transplant order

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Transplant experts and professionals underscored the need for every single country to develop national transplant programme based on ethical practices, transparency and well-being of the patients.

Globally renowned transplant surgeons, academicians and decision makers gathered at a daylong seminar titled " Update in Organ Transplantation" organised

by Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT), last week.

It was attended by Dr Nancy Ascher the past President of American Society of Transplant Surgeons, Dr Francis Delmonico from Harvard Medical School, Dr John Roberts who serves as professor of surgery at the Transplant Surgery Division of the US and Professor Adib Rizvi Director SIUT. Dr Ascher called for mobilis-

Dr Francis Delmonico

ing international, regional as well as national efforts to ensure that

make it to the higher level of education, and they may as well be among the one per cent who attain this quality of education.

“Your nation has expectations from you of bringing a positive change. You need to play your part as a responsible citizen. You have been through a tough discourse during your studies where you built self-learning skills, punctuality, discipline, team work, honesty and the rules of being a good citizen” added Dr Qazi.

Advisor to Prime Minister Iftikhar Durrani also attended the event and shared how he is also an alumnus of the University.

benefits of transplantation are extended to those who have reached end stages.

She said in many countries, mostly developing; a shift is being witnessed from communicable to non-communicable diseases. Dr Ascher lauded the services rendered by SIUT in developing a comprehensive network of specialised medical care.

Dr Delmonico, an Advisor to WHO, presented a vision of world organisation asking the governments all around the globe to chalk out a strategy of health care resources and its access to citizens.

He stressed that national authorities need to regulate donation

and transplantation activities by maximising donation from deceased donors and appropriate health care on long term basis.

Dr John Roberts traced and identified ‘Croatian model’ which has increased to 61pc in organ donation programme. He highlighted the importance of media and civil society in creating awareness of deceased organ donation programme.

Director SIUT Prof Adib Rizvi informed about philosophy of his institute, which is widely endorsed by society as a perfect health model, practiced successfully for last 47 years.

Continued on page 11

Polio eradication: still a daydream Continued from page 1

According to Neap report, Pakistan and Afghanistan are the only two countries still reporting wild poliovirus (WPV) cases. In 2017, 8 and 14 cases were reported from Pakistan and Afghanistan, respectively.

“The continued reporting isolation of WPVs from environmental surveillance (ES) samples in

Peshawar and Karachi provides sobering evidence of persistent transmission in many parts of the country,” the report said.

In 2018 so far, Pakistan has reported 8 cases, including Sindh one case in Karachi-Gadap and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, three in KP Tribal Districts and Balochistan, each.

While forwarding Neap 2018-

2019, Federal Minister for National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Aamir Mehmood Kiyani noted that challenges persist and there is still a lot to be done.

“Positive environmental samples, as well as the three cases reported from Balochistan (till June, 2018), show us that the virus is still able to survive in children

with sub-optimal immunity,” he added.

It was further learnt that to make sure no strain of the virus goes undetected, the Pakistan Polio Programme increased the sensitivity of the polio surveillance systems and expanded the number of environmental sampling locations to 55 collection sites spread across the country,

among other steps.

The surveillance network detected the virus from sewerage of seven populous cities -- Karachi and Sukkur in Sindh, Peshawar and Mardan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Lahore and Rawalpindi in Punjab, and the Federal Capital Islamabad -- during the month of November, 2018.

NEWS DESK

OPINION I 3

I Friday,December 14, 2018

People’s right to wellness

The detached amenities

S

indh is undergoing a severe gas crisis impacting largely its industries and logistics for the last few days. This is the first time that suspension of gas supply, for such a long duration has occurred, to CNG stations and residential localities in major cities of the province. Routine life is being measurably impacted in the megapolis like Karachi, while little is known about the restoration of the amenity.

Protests by masses against the provincial governments continue amidst statements by the federal government of overcoming the crisis shortly. In the meantime, the Prime Minister has constituted a committee to investigate the gas crisis, while expressing that gas supply to the domestic sector is the foremost responsibility of the government. SSGC could only say that it was facing acute shortage of gas and low pressure in the system. One is only left to hope for the best.

However, here a question arises that are our amenity managers and government functionaries and apparatus have lost the capacity of predicting such major and long impacting adversities, leave the maintenance and preemptive measures out of sight.

Pakistan has seen no good in the social amenity and utility meant for masses in the last couple of decades. Even a city like Karachi which houses over 22 million humans, thousands of industries, businesses, educational and health institutions is still victim of electricity shortage, despite official claims of success.

The system is also failing to meet the water needs of the citizens; what they get inadequately with a persistent intermission is contaminated or full of germs and diseases. Our water supply pipes are so weak that sewers seep into it. Water supply from the pipelines to various localities has not been reliable due to reasons, including electricity breakdown at water board’s installation. The uncertainty haunted people do wait for water in the wee hours as well. Moreover, houses in need of water are resorting to getting the sub-soil water through boring, or purchasing so-called bottled and caned water, which is a costly affair both in terms of finance and health.

Shortage of different civic amenities affects housewives, officegoers, students, patients, children and the old, the most in every part of the country. As such the power bureaus and administrative centres are required to rise to the occasion and solve the problem. They should show interest in resolving the civic and amenity issues at their earliest.

While we prepare Pakistan to compete against international countries, we need to first of all resolve the basic necessities of masses like electricity, gas, water, sanitation and hygiene, transport, education and health.

EXCERPTS Addressing the neglected issues: LAST week, the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) ordered closure of about half a dozen of industrial units located in various industrial estates in Karachi reportedly for violating the environmental protection laws. ●

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According to news reports, representatives of the industries in question were also called in by the provincial environmental ‘watchdog’ before issuance of the operation-closure notices to clarify their position. The industries were alleged by Sepa of not treating their highly hazardous and toxic effluents and wastewater before releasing it outside their respective production settings, which is an act inviting of penalties, sentencing of the quarters concerned as well as closure of the units under certain provisions of the Sindh Environmental Protection Act (Sepact) 2014.

However, considering the shut-down notices as a big slap to the industries in the province, various trade and industrial bodies are demanding the withdrawal of Sepa notices, maintaining that such ‘uncalled for’ orders will result in chaos among the industrialists and loss of jobs to workers.

Amidst their threats of going on strike over Sepa notices, the industrial associations also referred to various measures to be implemented with the support of governments at federal and provincial levels. They also called for immediate activation of the Sindh Environmental Protection Council (SEPC) in line with the provincial environmental protection laws, seeing it as the super guiding body in the case of both the law executors and the law abiding.

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It was claimed that a couple of measures, including the issuance of the provincial environmental standards – SEQS – for outdoor air quality across the province in 2014, were taken without seeking a formal approval of SEPC, which to some environmental experts was an act not in conformity with the relevant laws.

As per the environmental protection Act, the protection council will coordinate and supervise enforcement of the provisions of the act and other laws related to the environment in the province. The council will also approve comprehensive provincial environmental and sustainable development policies and ensure their implementation within the framework of a conservation strategy and sustainable development plan as may be approved by the government from time to time. The council will also provide guidelines for the protection and conservation of species, habitat, and bio-diversity in general and for the conservation of renewable and non-renewable resources.

The council may either itself or on the request of any person or organisation, direct the Sepa or any government agency to prepare, submit, promote or implement projects for the protection, conservation, rehabilitation and improvement of the environment, prevention and control of pollution, and sustainable development of resources or to undertake research in any specified aspect of environment.

Social Track editorial, March 03, 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.

New global CO2 emissions numbers are in. They’re not good.

By Kelly Levin

E

ach year in late November or early December, climate negotiators, NGOs and increasingly cities and businesses head to the annual climate talks. Typically coinciding with these negotiations is an announcement from the Global Carbon Project, which releases its annual data on carbon dioxide emissions, backed up by peer-reviewed publications. Carbon dioxide emissions are the largest contributor to human-induced warming, and, therefore, are one of the most critical signposts to watch.

This year’s numbers, which are the climate community’s first indication of 2018 carbon dioxide emissions levels, are out. The major takeaway is that we are not doing well. While renewables are surging, energy use from fossil fuels is still outpacing low-carbon sources. Here are a few highlights from the new data.

Record carbon dioxide emissions in 2018 Last year’s Global Carbon Project forecast for 2017 (a forecast because the year was not over when the data were first published) made a splash: They expected fossil carbon dioxide emissions to grow in 2017, after flattening from 2014 to 2016.

Prior to this, the climate community had been patting themselves on the back as emissions had been stabilizing. In a rough wake-up call, the Global Carbon Project found this was no longer the case. This year’s numbers confirm their earlier projection: Total carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry rose by 1.6 percent in 2017 to 36.2 gigatonnes CO2.

Furthermore, the Global Carbon Project expects that this number is projected to have climbed to a record 37.1 gigatonnes CO2 in 2018. Carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuel sources will have grown by 2.7 percent this year, growing even more quickly than the previous year, which saw a 1.6 percent increase.

World’s major emitters not doing enough The world is looking to developed countries to lead the way to a low carbon future. But they are not curbing their reduction in fossil fuel consumption quickly enough.

In the case of the United States, emissions are headed in the wrong direction altogether. Energy use

in the U.S. has increased over the last five years, reversing a decade of decline. Emissions are expected to increase in the US in 2018—a 2.5 percent increase between 2017 and 2018—in part due to weather (greater heating and cooling demands) and increases in oil use due to low oil prices. Emissions declines in the E.U. have slowed recently. Between 2017 and 2018, the EU saw a decline of emissions of only 0.7 percent.

At the same time, emissions growth is not slowing in other parts of the world, and in many cases is accelerating. Between 2017 and 2018, CO2 emissions climbed by 6.3 percent in India (a rate three times higher than last year’s) and by 4.7 percent in China (compared with last year’s rate of increase of 3.5 percent). The rest of the world’s emissions have also been growing on average, with CO2 emissions 1.8 percent higher in 2018 than 2017.

There are bright spots. Almost 20 countries, contributing 20 percent of global CO2 emissions, have decoupled fossil CO2 emissions and economic growth over the past decade.

Natural gas and oil use still rising Natural gas use is seeing the greatest acceleration, growing 2 percent annually in the last five years.

While it has a lower carbon footprint than other fossil fuels, such as coal, it is a major source of the increase in carbon dioxide emissions. This is because natural gas is not only being used to replace coal, but also meet new energy consumption needs. In China, natural gas rose 8.4 percent per year since 2013 to respond to new energy needs, such as for heavy manufacturing, in addition to replacing coal.

Oil is also on the rise, with oil consumption up 1.4 percent per year since 2012. Most of the increase has been in China and India, with increases of roughly 4 to 5 percent per year. While it had been previously thought that oil had reached its peak in the U.S. and E.U., oil use increased by 1.3 and 0.4 percent per year in these regions, respectively. Greater reliance on vehicles—with the number of vehicles growing 4 percent per year globally since 2012—and longer trips per vehicle can help explain recent trends. Furthermore, air traffic is on the rise, offsetting any increases in fuel efficiency.

Continued on page 11

Domestic violence must stop

A

research conducted by ActionAid Bangladesh and Jatiyo Nari Nirjaton Protirodh Forum, Spotlight on Violence Against Women in Bangladesh: Trends and Solution, launched on Thursday shows that two of every three women faced domestic violence and 72.7 per cent of them never disclosed their experience to others. When the cabinet first approved the draft of a law titled the Domestic Violence (Resistance and Protection) Act 2010, it brought hopes that the legal framework being envisaged would be more focused and substantive than anything we had known by addressing repression on women. But our expectations have been dashed as we frequently notice reports of domestic violence in the media even after the law came into being.

The power of good the law can wield fundamentally hinges on awareness about and user-friendliness of the legal provisions contained in the law so that these can be implemented. The first priority, therefore, would be to launch a massive campaign towards making the public, particularly women, aware of the major features of the law, beckoning them to resort to the law, detailing the procedures to seek redress. A law can only operate when a violence is reported, brought up to the police and goes to court. But a large number of incidents of violence go unreported. How can we possibly address domestic violence if it does not come to light, if the victim is muted,

or no one volunteers to furnish any information about an occurrence taking place? According to the research, most of the women face chronic abuse, torture and violence at home. Only 2.1 per cent women inform local leaders of violence and torture they are subjected to while only 1.1 per cent women seek police help. Under these circumstances, it is of utmost importance that the government, local bodies, NGOs and women rights groups would work together to create awareness on a sustained basis among the masses of the existence of the law, availability of legal options and the ways to go about them. In all fairness, we admit that individually they are capable of disseminating information which they perhaps do in varying degrees.

But unless there is an orchestration of efforts tailored to the ingredients of domestic violence in urban areas and rural habitats, the existence of the law by itself will be of little help.

While there should be a massive awareness campaign on that level, there is another reservoir of potential we must tap into to carry forward the task. In this category fall schools, madrassahs, colleges, vocational institutes and universities where discussions should be held and the students who would be engaged in these discussions should sensitise people around them to the provisions of the law and, thus, help to combat violence against women.

From Asia

Editorial/New Age, Bangladesh

4 I HEALTH

I Friday,December 14, 2018

Snoring poses greater cardiac risk to women

People’s right to wellness

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bstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and snoring may lead to earlier impairment of cardiac function in women than in men, according to a new study presented today (November 29, 2018) at the annual meeting of the Radiological Society of North America (RSNA). Moreover, the findings suggested that OSA may be vastly underdiagnosed among snorers.

A common but dangerous sleep disorder, OSA causes an increased risk for left ventricular and, more rarely, right ventricular dysfunction in the heart.

OSA is the most common type of sleep apnea. It occurs when the throat muscles intermittently relax and block the airway while a person sleeps. While there are several symptoms of OSA -- such as gasping for air during sleep, waking with a dry mouth, morning headache and irritability -loud snoring is a common sign.

Complications of OSA may include daytime fatigue and sleepiness, complications with medications and surgery, and cardiovascular problems.

Researchers investigated cardiac function in relation to diagnosed OSA and self-reported

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snoring from data available through UK Biobank. A national and international health resource, UK Biobank is open to researchers and follows the health and well-being of 500,000 volunteer participants. Its aim is to improve the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of a wide range of serious and life-threatening illnesses.

For this study, data from 4,877 UK Biobank participants who had received a cardiac MRI were analyzed. The patients were allocated to three study groups: those with OSA (118 patients), those with self-reported snoring (1,886 patients), and those who are unaffected -- without OSA or snoring (2,477 patients). There were 396 individuals who did not meet research criteria.

"Our analysis showed that in both genders of the OSA and snoring groups there was an increase in left ventricular mass, meaning that the walls of the heart's main pumping chamber are enlarged, making the heart work harder," said lead author Adrian Curta, radiology resident at Munich University Hospital in Munich, Germany. "We also found that men showed an in-

crease in the ejection fraction of both ventricles."

Ejection fraction is the percentage of the heart chamber's total volume that is pumped out with each heartbeat.

When the researchers compared the snoring group to the unaffected group, they found a more significant difference in the left ventricular mass in women than in men. The cardiac changes in the self-reported snorers point to earlier impairment and might be an indication of undiagnosed OSA. "We found that the cardiac parameters in women appear to be more easily affected by the disease and that women who snore or have OSA might be at greater risk for cardiac involvement," Dr. Curta said. "We also found that the prevalence of diagnosed OSA in the study group was extremely low. Together with the alterations in cardiac function in the snoring group, it leads us to believe that OSA may be grossly underdiagnosed."

The findings suggest that the transition from snoring to OSA is an evolving process that is associated with left ventricular hypertrophy, an independent predictor for increased adverse events and

in-hospital mortality in many procedures.

Dr. Curta stresses the importance for people who snore to get screened for OSA, and cautioned that those with OSA should be properly treated.

"I would encourage people who snore to ask their partner to observe them and look for phases during sleep when they stop breathing for a short while and then gasp for air," Dr. Curta said.

"If unsure, they can spend the night at a sleep lab where breathing is constantly monitored during sleep and even slight alterations can be recorded."

Treatment is dependent on the cause of an individual's OSA, Dr. Curta noted. Weight loss, for example, can often improve OSA in overweight individuals. Apart from that, there are surgical techniques and special machines that keep the upper airways open at nighttime by applying continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP).

Since this was a population study, the researchers hope to conduct further studies to gain more insight into the gender differences associated with snoring and OSA. Courtesy: ScienceDaily

The Liver Meeting 2018 Roundup

T

his year’s Annual Meeting of the American Association for the Study of Liver Diseases in San Francisco (The Liver Meeting) offered conference-goers a range of findings about liver-related conditions— including hepatitis B and C viruses (HBV/HCV) and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)—and liver transplants.

Hepatitis C treatment As recently as a few years ago, The Liver Meeting (November 913) was dominated by news about just how effective and tolerable each new direct-acting antiviral (DAA) regimen was at treating hep C. But now that the DAA market has become saturated with numerous regimens, research presented at The Liver Meeting about such treatments has largely focused on addressing the unmet needs of subgroups of the hep C population.

A study presented this year found that in one large national cohort, the quarterly rate of people starting DAA treatment surged after Gilead Sciences’ Sovaldi (sofosbuvir) and Harvoni (ledipasvir/sofosbuvir) were approved in late 2013 and late 2014, respectively. This rate peaked in early 2015 and has declined more or less steadily ever since.

Several studies looked at AbbVie’s Mavyret (glecaprevir/pibrentasvir), including one that found that the regimen is highly effective among those with genotypes 5 and 6 of hep C, which are

rare, at least in the United States.

Another study of the regimen found that it cured all of those with compensated cirrhosis (the milder form of the advanced liver disease) in just eight weeks.

Mavyret also performed well among those with severely damaged kidneys, which is common among people with HCV. Gilead’s Epclusa was highly effective at curing HCV among those on dialysis, including those who also had cirrhosis. Another of the company’s more recent regimens, Vosevi (sofosbuvir/velpatasvir/voxilaprevir), posted very high cure rates among those who hadn’t been cured by a previous HCV regimen, including people coinfected with HIV. Given how extraordinarily expensive HCV drugs are, cutting treatment length is an important way to save money and hopefully prompt insurers to be less restrictive about who can receive coverage for DAAs. A study found great promise in what’s known as response-guided therapy, in which clinicians monitor the HCV viral load of individuals while they’re on DAAs and use that information to decide whether it’s OK to stop treatment earlier than guidelines recommend.

There’s been a lot of talk in recent years about how liver and infectious disease specialists can’t handle the case load of all the patients requiring HCV treatment.

Consequently, there’s been a push to get primary care physicians to pick up the slack, which many

argue they’re capable of doing, given how simple it’s become to treat the virus. However, a study presented at the conference showed a troubling downside to such a trend: Nonspecialists are much less likely than specialists to get hep C patients on treatment for the virus.

Research has repeatedly indicated that, contrary to what many insurers might insist, people who inject drugs can actually do quite well on hep C regimens. One new study found this to be true with Epclusa.

On the pediatric front, weightbased dosing of Harvoni cured almost all of a small group of 3to5-year olds in a recent study.

Fatty Liver Research has suggested that perhaps as much as 40 percent of those living with HIV have fatty liver disease. If this holds true, then the vast majority of those cases go undiagnosed, according to a study presented at The Liver Meeting. Another study of HIVpositive individuals found that fatty liver was linked to various factors, including high blood pressure, diabetes, low HDL cholesterol, high triglycerides and cardiovascular disease, and having a low CD4 count.

On the treatment front, Viking Therapeutics’ investigational thyroid drug VK2809 showed promise as a treatment for fatty liver disease. Also, a Phase IIb trial of Galmed Pharmaceuticals’ medication Aramchol lowered liver

fat in those with the disease.

Hepatitis B Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate, or TDF) has long been used to treat hepatitis B but is associated with kidney and bone toxicities. In 2016, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Gilead’s updated version of Viread, Vemlidy (tenofovir alafenamide, or TAF), which various studies have indicated is associated with improved markers of kidney and bone health. That includes a new study presented at the conference that found that among those who switched their HBV treatment from Viread to Vemlidy, such markers were improved one year later, compared with those who stayed on Viread.

Transplants Numerous studies have found that it’s safe to transplant organs from HCV-infected donors into HCV-negative recipients and then treat them with DAAs afterward.

One study presented at the conference found that such a method was safe for transplants of hearts, kidneys and livers.

As for transplanting livers from donors with hep B, another study found that, among transplantees, taking Vemlidy rather than Viread as prophylaxis against the virus was, as with the other study comparing these two drugs, tied to better markers of kidney and bone health.

– Benjamin Ryan Courtesy: hepmag.com

HEALTH I 5

I Friday,December 14, 2018

‘HIV not cure-able, but controllable’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Various health institutions and government functionaries in Sindh organised seminar and walks as well as candlelit night celebrations in presence of patients suffering from “Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)” or “Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS)”.

Around the globe, World AIDS Day (WAD) was observed on December 1. Theme for the World Health Organisaion (WHO) launched awareness day for this year is “Know Your Status”.

According to WHO, in the year 2017, 940,000 people died from HIV-related causes globally. There were approximately 36.9 million people living with HIV at the end of 2017 with 1.8 million people becoming newly infected in 2017 globally. African Region is the most affected region, with 25.7 million people living with HIV in 2017.

Experts say HIV infection is often diagnosed through rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs), which detect the presence or absence of HIV antibodies. HIV targets the immune system and weakens people’s defense

systems against infections. Immune function is typically measured by CD4 cell count.

They continued that there is no cure for HIV infection but, effective antiretroviral (ARV) drugs can control the virus and help prevent transmission so that people with HIV, and those at substantial risk, can enjoy healthy, long and productive lives.

Participants at the WAD events were told that Pakistan has around 150,000 people living with HIV/AIDS and among them about 60,000 live in Sindh.

The Sindh Aids Control Programme (SACP) has been able to confirm the presence of dreaded disease in around 25pc of the estimated infected people in question, while other 75pc of the said population is believed either suffering the disease as hidden cases or died of that.

At a relevant gathering, SACP Programme Manager Dr Younis Chachar said that his organisation has recorded 15,147 cases of HIV infection, including women and children during a period from 19952018, among them 239 were AIDS patients.

He said that SACP is giving care

to HIV/AIDS patients without any discrimination. At present 6,835 patients are being extended to medicines and treatment facilities.

Dr Chachar further said that the Programme has lately established six treatment centres for HIV/AIDS patients in the province; one each at Indus Hospital, Aga Khan Hospital, Lyari General Hospital and Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre at Karachi, the Civil hospitals in Jacoababad and Sukkur.

He informed the participants of candle light ceremony that SACP will soon make functional the treatment centres at Abbasi Shaheed Hospital Karachi, Civil Hospital Mirpurkhas and Civil Hospital Nawabshah.

Additional Chief Secretary Health of Sindh, Dr Usman Chachar said that people infected with HIV are equally important for the health department. Both the government and the society are required to ensure elimination of any stigma in their case as they deserved affection and attention without any discrimination.

SACP in collaboration with the international health agencies arranged a walk from Sindh Secre-

Training of trainers at DUHS

KARACHI: DUHS faculty members attending the training session, recently. — ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) organised a selected faculty training programme of three sessions on Communication Skills, Learner’s Psychology, Teaching as a Profession, Research Methods and Skills, Understanding Adult Learning and the HEC Anti-Plagiarism Policy.

The three-day long Faculty Professional Development Programme was organised by the Quality Enhancement Cell (QEC) of DUHS at the university's Ojha Campus, recently.

Master Trainer, trained by the Higher Education Commission, Nadia Shah accompanied by Sumera Inam, Senior Lecturer and Biostatistician at the School of Pub-

lic Health, DUHS cascaded and facilitated the programme sessions.

The programme focused training classes to enhance the communication skills of faculty through different activities of verbal and non-verbal communication. The importance of communication was discussed along with the different characteristics of adult learning styles including; auditory, visual and kinesthetic.

In various interactive sessions, participants expressed and contributed their views on diversified topics and disciplines of study. The programme was designed keeping in view the significance of teaching as a profession, research methodologies and participants were given hands-on training on SPSS software for research facilitation also.

There were participants from various teaching departments and institutions of DUHS. The programme concluded with a certificate distribution ceremony.

tariat round-about to the Karachi Press Club, which was joined by doctors, students, lady health workers, lady health visitors, teachers, women, children and media persons.

SACP coordinating officer, Dr Sikandar Iqbal informed that events similar were hold by health offices in other districts including; Hyderabad, Sukkur and Mirpurkhas.

Expressing solidarity with the peoples living with AIDS or HIV, a couple of the participants said that there is a dire need to ensure increased service delivery packages for the key populations, which form the main agents in transmissions and fueling of HIV epidemic in the country.

They referred to the Integrated Biological and Behavioural Surveillance report 2016-17 and said that there are no sign of the HIV epidemic reversing, declining or even stabilising among the key populations – people who inject drugs (PWID), transgender people, female sex workers and men having sex with men.

According to report, the highest prevalence of HIV for PWID was reported from Kasur (50.8pc), followed by Karachi (48.7pc), Ba-

hawalpur (25.1pc) and Mirpurkhas (23.2pc). The highest prevalence for the infection in transgender people was reported from Larkana (18.2pc), followed by Bannu (15pc) and Karachi (12.9pc).

Stress causes health disorders

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Everyone feels stressed and worried at times. No one is immune to stress, says Prof Dr Muhammad Iqbal Afridi, Head of Psychiatry and Behavioural Sciences Dean, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre, Karachi, “Stress causes many health disorders including acne, migraine, allergic reactions, angina pectoris, and nausea.”

Dr Panjwani Center for Molecular Medicine and Drug Research (PCMD), International Center for Chemical and Biological Sciences, University of Karachi and Virtual Education Project Pakistan (VEPP) jointly organised the 48th public awareness seminar on "Stress and Related Health Disorders" recently.

Prof Afridi informed stress happens whenever, “People feel under

pressure, worried, upset, sad, and angry or maybe a mixture of uncomfortable feelings.”

He pointed out many ordinary situations in our everyday life routine can make us stressed out for a longer time. It can be even worse if someone is sexually abused or seeing parents fighting, family breaking up, someone close to us ill, or die.

He highlighted top 10 most stressful life events, which include; death of a spouse or child, divorce, marital separation, imprisonment, a death of a close family member, personal injury or illness, marriage, dismissal from work, marital reconciliation, and retirement.

Prof Afridi said that stress can affect us mentally and physically but, understanding and support from other people makes it much easier to cope with stress. Feeling alone makes it harder.

Specially-abled persons day celebrated

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: To promote an understanding of disability issue international observance started back in 2008. The Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (IPM&R) of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) started celebrating the day in 2011 and has catered needs of 20-25 thousand people with disabilities all over Pakistan.

Begum Sharmeen Murad Ali Shah, wife of Chief Minister Sindh expressed support for the handicapped and disabled people in an awareness session on the International Day of People with Disabilities organised

by IPM&R at the university's Arag Auditorium, DUHS, recently.

DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Mohammed Saeed Quraishy said that this is

KARACHI: Begum Sharmeen Murad Ali Shah handing gift to a child during the event. — ST photo

the core responsibility of the government along with the civil society to prevent the rights of the disabled persons in social, po-

litical, cultural and economic aspects of life.

Prof Quraishy expressed disappoint-

ment while highlighting the problems faced by such people. “Even the buildings are not constructed properly by law which makes it difficult for the crippled people to walk through.”

Mother of Zaeem shared about what she had gone through two and a half year ago when she came to know that her child is suffering from Autism. She being thankful said that her child is able to perform the daily routine activities within one and a half year after he was kept under treatment at DUHS. Additional Director Syed Imran Ahmed thanked the chief guest and the audiences.

The programme was concluded by Prof Quraishy presenting shield as a token of remembrance to Begum Sharmeen Murad Ali Shah.

6 I SPECIAL REPORT

I Friday,December 14, 2018

HARD Photos courtesy: AKU

AKU celebrates conferment of 15,000 degrees

Chief Guest Roshaneh Zafar with AKU President Firoz Rasul and senior faculty members during the convocation

Best graduate in Medicine receiving the award from the chief guest

KARACHI: The number of Aga Khan University (AKU) alumni rose to 15,000 as the university conferred degrees to another 400 graduates at its annual convocation here, recently.

Established about 35 years back as Pakistan's first private university, AKU today imparts education in nursing, medicine and education disciplines. Its graduates are serving not only in the Pakistan but also in Afghanistan, East Africa, and

other countries.

In his convocation address, President Aga Khan University Firoz Rasul said, “Today we are graduating our 15,000thstudent.

What’s more, we are graduating our 10,000th woman.”

“15,000 leaders educated.

15,000 lives changed,” he further said adding “on average every AKU graduate makes a measurable difference in 1,000 lives. That would mean 15 million people stand to

benefit from the work of our alumni.”

He urged the graduates to be bold, to pursue excellence, to work to improve the lives of the disadvantaged, and to anticipate the course of change, in accordance with AKU’s founding vision.

“You can lead a life that contributes to the great tasks of overcoming disease, poverty, ignorance, and suffering,” he said. “A life that empowers others to pursue their dreams, and brings something new into this world. A life that calls upon all the knowledge you have acquired and all the skills you have developed, and challenges you to continue learning, growing, and discovering new capacities.” He said that in a constantly evolving world, graduates must endeavor to fly high and see far. They must be ready to anticipate, adapt to, and shape the course of change.

AKU President noted that the graduates have overcome every challenge that came their way, not only intellectual but personal, social, and emotional as well. "At AKU education is a stern test. But it has brought out the best in you. You have the knowledge and skills; the

Best graduate in Nursing being honoured by the chief guest

confidence and compassion; and the capacity for leadership needed to succeed and to make a difference in the lives of others," he addressed the graduates.

President Rasul emphasised that AKU graduates are indeed a “powerful light” as described 30 years ago by the university's then chancellor, the Aga Khan.

This year, 441 AKU students received degrees in different disciplines including nursing, midwifery, medicine and education.

This included 228 graduates from the School of Nursing and Midwifery, 160 from the Medical College, 44 from the Institute of Educational Development and 9 from the Institute for the Study of Muslim Civilisations.

A number of students won awards at the convocation. The 2018 Best Graduate Awards went to Anmol Minaz from the School of Nursing and Midwifery and Basim Ali from the Medical College.

The chief guest, Roshaneh Zafar, founder and managing director of the Kashf Foundation extended her congratulations to the graduating class and encouraged them to continue their quest for

knowledge through the experience of serving others. “You are graduating today, commit to yourself that you will use this knowledge to be a process of change for others,” she said.

“You may have finished your studies today but this process of learning can never end. So you must continue to use your knowledge to change the world that you are currently in. And that again must never stop.”

She reminded the audience about the importance of collective prosperity. “What we are taught in our schools is to be individual achievers but it is very important that we look at the work we do in light of the impact it has on others.

That is very important.”

Valedictorian Sarosh Madhani echoed these thoughts in his speech.

“In our time here… we have seen people from all walks of life. People of different ages, genders, races, ethnicities who came to us battered by sickness and broken in spirit and we brought them back up on their feet. But most importantly, we gave them their right to hope: hope for a future full of health, sustainability and opportunity.”

–SK

SPECIAL REPORT I 7

I Friday,December 14, 2018

Photos by A G Khalid

wORK

‘DUHS graduates to lead toward betterment’ Graduates taking the oath

Chief Guest Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho addressing the graduating students

DUHS VC Prof Saeed Quraishy addressing the convocation attendees.

KU VC Prof M Ajmal Khan speaking at the convocation

An outstanding graduate receiving the shield from the chief guest

Parents and guests attending the convocation at DUHS last week.

KARACHI: Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) sent out a batch of 1,370 graduates and postgraduates to serve the country after conferring degrees and diplomas in medical and paramedical disciplines to them at its 9th convocation, last week.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho, who is also the pro-chancellor of the university, attended the event as the chief guest, while Vice Chancellor of the University of Karachi Prof Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan was the Guest of Honour.

Dr Pechuho, along with DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Saeed Quraishy and Pro-vice Chancellors Prof Dr Muhammad Masroor and Prof Zarnaz Wahid, handed out 74 gold, silver and bronze medals to top securing students in different academic programmes.

Out of the total graduates, 388 belonged to MBBS programme of Dow Medical College and Dow International Medical College and 174 to BDS programme of Dow Dental College, Dow International Dental College and Dr Ishrat-ul Ibad Khan Institute of Oral Health Sciences. Another 78 graduates were conferred Pharm D degrees, while 70 received the MPhil degrees.

Degrees and diploma were also given to graduates of Bussiness Administration, Nutritional Sciences, Public Health, Nursing, Dental Hygiene and Technology, Medical Technology, and Cardiology.

Dr Omaima of DMC and Dr Moiz Ehtisham of DIMC, who secured gold medals and were declared the best graduates of 2018 class, delivered the valedictory speeches.

Earlier the chief guest, Dr Pechuho, in her speech appreciated the services of DUHS in the realm of medical education and said that it was a matter of great satisfaction that the university had emerged as the fastest-growing medical university of Pakistan.

Addressing the graduates, she wished them excellence in their careers and the zeal to serve the country. She emphasized how the

graduates are expected to deliver their duties with honesty, hard work and dedication.

DUHS VC Dr Quraishy said that the graduation ceremony was a major highlight in the university’s calendar of events as it gave it the opportunity to recognise, honour and celebrate the academic success of its graduates.

“The fact that you are here today is a testament of your resilience, resolve and fortitude to rise above all hurdles. Take pride in the glory of this moment and look forward to serve the world with similar courage and enthusiasm.”

He also said, “You are the emerging leaders of tomorrow and you must demonstrate humility and morality with a commitment to changing and saving lives.”

KU VC Dr M Ajmal Khan said: the graduates who now have acquired the medical education and training have to meet the expectations of the entire nation. “You have entered in your professional lives. You have the skill to overcome anything in your difficult times.”

Gold Medals Candidates who were awarded with gold medals for securing first positions in various programmes: MBBS – Umama Ameen of DMC, Annam Kafeel of DIMC, BDS –Sadaf Hassan of DIKIOHS, Marium Rehmat Elahi of DDC and Maheen Sohail of DIDC, BBA – Kainat Zamir and Umme Sumaiya, Pharm D – Hira Sulemani, BSMT – Sadaf Mahmood, Iqra Abid Ali, Tabassum Qadeer and Yousra Mushtaq Hussain, BSOT – Maida Gulzar, Post RN – Binish Badruddin, Muniza Momin, Farzana Mahboob Hussain, Asif Ali, BS Generic Nursing – Kanwal Karim Damani and Anum Fayyaz, BSDCP – Areeba Sohail, Mahreen Siddiqui, BSPO – Sunaila Sharif, BSDT –Sumayya Anum and Tooba Khan, DPT – Hira Saleem and Areeba Raja.

–MA

8 I ENVIRONMENT / ENERGY

I Friday,December 14, 2018

‘Gas project to increase fuel security in the country’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Environment, Climate Change and Coastal Development, Muhammad Taimur Talpur has expressed hope that works on 800-kilometer long gas pipeline from Nawabshah to Lahore will be undertaken in a timely fashion, while giving care to all aspects of environmental and social issues.

Speaking at "Scoping Meeting on Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study (ESIA) of North South Gas Pipeline Project (NSGPP)", jointly organised by EMC Pakistan Private Ltd and RT Global Resources, recently, the minister said that in view of significance of the project in overcoming the gas crisis in the country, the Sindh government will extend all its support. “The project will help increase the fuel security in the country.”

He, however, warned that the government will not compromise on environment. “We will certainly need the proponents of the project to comply with the national and international laws, execute the works transparently and in an environment-friendly manner.”

He urged the Sindh Environment Protection Agency (Sepa) to watch the entire development of the project and ensure environment and wildlife conservation along the route of the project. He suggested that Sepa may ask the executers of the project to plant at least 20 trees for every fallen tree along the route of the pipeline as a compensation.

Pakistan and Russia had signed an inter-

KARACHI: Provincial minister for environment and climate change, M Taimur Talpur, speaking at the scoping meeting on a gas pipeline project at a hotel, recently. — ST photo

governmental agreement in October 2015 for the construction of North-South gas pipeline from Karachi to Lahore on Build Own Operate and Transfer (BOOT) model with Russia as executer. At that time, it was said that the proposed 1,100 kilometer pipeline with a capacity of 12.4 billion cubic meter per annum will connect Karachi's liquefied natural gas (LNG) terminals with those in Lahore.

However, according to news reports, the two sides -- represented by the Inter-State Gas System (ISGS) and the RT Global, a Russian energy conglomerate -- lately have finalised BOOT agreement draft emphasising laying down of the pipeline from Nawabshah to Lahore, while a pipeline of 300 kilometers will be laid from Karachi to Nawabshah, if needed.

The Russian company will hand over the project to Pakistan after 25 years.

Participants of the scoping meeting held in a hotel were told by the proponents and their

local consultants that the gas pipeline would be laid from Nawabshah district of Sindh to Nankana Sahib district of Punjab.

The North-South gas transportation system will have its connection with Gwadar-Nawabshah LNG project at Nawabshah.

The pipeline route traverses through Khairpur, Sukkur and Ghotki in Sindh, and Rahimyar Khan, Bahawalpur, Vehari, Pakpattan, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Kasur and Nankana Sahib in Punjab.

Syed Nadeem Arif, Managing Director of EMC said that the scoping meeting was beginning of the Environmental and Social Impact Assessment Study for NSGPP following national regulations and international standards. “We will have valuable feedback and important concerns from various cross-sections of academia, governmental institutions, conservation experts, technical experts and social and cultural specialists among many stake-

holders.” He added that such a scoping meeting has already been held at Lahore in November.

Talking of the economic and employment opportunities available in the wake of the project, Deputy Project Director, RT Global Resources, Surgeev Oleg said that several thousand local people will be employed during the construction phase of the project, while another several hundred will be hired for the operational phase of the pipeline project. “We have already engaged local entrepreneurs, whose number will increase considerably in the times to come.”

He further said that caring for the environment was top priority of his team.

Wajahat Sandhu of RT Global said that work on the project, selected from one of the four corridors, has been operational since 2014.

“It’s a long duration project, involving a lot of logistics from Karachi to Nankana Sahib.”

Additional Director General of Sepa, Naeem A Mughal said that the environmental impact assessments of the development projects like NSGPP North-South Gas Pipeline were conducted as a tool to ensure sustainable development of the area in surroundings of the project, which will also benefit the local population. ”Sepa will ensure that project’s execution does not create any adverse impact on natural resources and population along the proposed pipeline.”

Continued on page 11

Role of wind in meeting energy needs highlighted

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The 17th World Wind Energy Conference (WWEC), organised for three day in the city recently, called for harnessing renewable energy resources to meet the growing energy needs in developing countries including Pakistan without compromising the climate change concerns.

The conference was organised by World Wind Energy Association (WWEA) with the theme of “Re-energising the developing world” in collaboration with Heinrich Boell Stiftung (HBS). About 600 participants from 30 countries attended the conference, which covered all aspects of wind utilisation, science and technology, related policies, manufacturing, development, operation, integrated solutions, community involvement as well as other economic and social issues.

Speaking at the conference, German Ambassador to Pakistan Martin Kobler said that renewable energy has to be at the centre of the agenda for sustainable development. “The economic growth must be de-linked from carbon emissions –a must for the survival of our planet.”

Sindh Energy Minister Imtiaz Ahmed Shaikh said that the Sindh government has decided to establish its own grid company under public-private partnership agreement, which will work to evacuate clean electricity from the country’s only wind corridor in ThattaJhimpir area of the province.

Mr Shaikh said that the Sindh government had reserved 60,000 acres of land in the province to develop renewable energy projects reflecting well in its commitment to generate electricity using the alternative resources. He said that 23 wind energy projects had started functioning in Gharo-Jhimpir corridor of the province while another 30 to 40 such projects were under different stages of completion.

According to the conference’s resolutions, it was understood that realising the huge potential of wind and the other renewable energies required clear, reliable and positive policies. “The lack of regulatory and political continuity has a harmful impact on the sector 's supply chain, including manufacturing, planning, construction, operation and fi-

nance.”

The moot underlined the importance of innovative technological, commercial and regulatory approaches, and saw huge potential in hybrid wind energy systems, along with other renewable energy technologies.

WWEC also emphasised the nexus between water, food & agriculture and the energy sectors. “There is a need to use renewable energy in a way that also fosters water supply and sustainable agriculture.”

The moot underscored the significance of training and education, particularly in light of the fact that the full benefits of renewable energy are only available when fostering economic activities and creating jobs. “As a new industrial sector, wind power requires a skilled workforce.”

It stressed the need to develop national strategies to foster domestic manufacturing capacities and capabilities and noted that the best way to reach that goal is a sizable national market for wind power.

It underlined the importance of rural electrification based on renewable energy and decentralised off-grid applications as the only approach that enables energy access for underserved communities and that go a long way in community empowerment.

The Conference recognised the urgency to combat climate change effectively by achieving – as soon as possible and in accordance with the Paris Agreement – an emission free energy supply worldwide, which means 100% renewable energy globally. “Governments should accordingly declare renewable energy a national priority.”

However, WWEC 2018 remarked that there are still manifold barriers in developing countries that hinder the fast deployment of wind power, including unreliable remuneration systems, bureaucratic barriers and shortage in grid capacity to evacuate electricity produced in wind farms.

The conference applauded the establishment of the permanent WWEA Office Pakistan, which will provide information about the status and potential of wind power, including how to create appropriate regulatory frameworks, and will support the domestic wind sector in Pakistan to grow.

KARACHI: WWEA President Peter Rae presenting the World Wind Energy Award 2018 to Air Marshal (retd) Shahid Hamid. — ST photo

The 17th edition of WWE also lauded the making of the World Wind Energy Award 2018 to retired Air Marshal Shahid Hamid for “his key role in creating the renewable energy market in Pakistan and for his international contributions to renewable energy.”

During the moot, the participants were told that the renewable energy generation in Pakistan at present stood for only five per cent of the national energy mix.

WWEA President Peter Rae, among others, spoke at the conference and called for exploring the potential of renewable energy resources globally to ensure a sustainable and better world for people.

WWEA Vice President retired Air Marshal Shahid Hamid said that Pakistan had been gifted with enormous untapped renewable energy resources whose proper utilisation could not just be helpful to meet electricity demand of the country but could also generate surplus electricity.

CEO of Alternative Energy Development Board Amjad Ali Awan said that wind energy projects commissioned in Gharo-Jhimpir wind corridor in Sindh had been generating 1,184 MWs of clean electricity for the national grid.

Sindh Energy Secretary Musaddiq Ahmed Khan said that it was high time for Pakistan to

utilise the option of power generation through the means of alternative energy resources owing to the phenomenal incentives in terms of lesser tariff for power consumers and saving of precious foreign exchange reserves of the country as compared to other conventional resources of power generation.

Country Director of Asian Development Bank in Pakistan, Xiaohong Yang, said that massive contribution and funding being provided by the Bank to beef up and make strong energy sector of Pakistan.

John Smith-Sreen of USAID in Pakistan, Stefan Gsanger of WWEA, Dr Irfan Afzal Mirza of Renewable Resources, Ubaid Amanullah of Gul Ahmed Energy and Mehfooz Ahmed Qazi, Director, Alternative Energy, Sindh government also spoke at the conference.

In the meantime, speaking at the concluding session, Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Power Sector, Shahzad Qasim said that a new power sector policy will soon be introduced by the federal government to remove all constraints of the electricity transmission system. “Present government in collaboration with the concerned stakeholders of power sector would strive to increase the share of renewable power generation up to 20 per cent of the national energy mix,” he added.

EDUCATION I 9

I Friday,December 14, 2018

‘Social science shaping world peace order’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI:Social Sciences represent human’s efforts to study and examine each other. The research in Social Sciences must be goal oriented to serve humanity, suggesting ways to address human’s social problems, said the former interim Chief Minister Punjab, Prof Hasan Askari Rizvi at the University of Karachi, recently.

The Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, KU, organised a two-day international conference on “new trends in social sciences and humanities in the contemporary world: with reference to world peace order”, at its auditorium.

Prof Askari informed, “The Social Sciences provide a diversity of opinion while accessing education as an uttermost priority can help in society’s development.”

He said that research on human issues requires hard-work and adoption of scientific methodology.

Meanwhile, the Vice Chancellor of KU, Professor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan highlighted the importance of education and stressed to pursue it to excel one’s performance. He told the students that taking a side, position are two different things, and being a researcher, one must know the difference between them.

He observed that the world peace order is one of the most critical aspects of international governance; with more conflict-displaced refugees in the world than ever before, it seems as though world peace may be a more distant dream than ever before.

Daniel Olson from Brier Crest College, Canada, while presenting his research paper on understanding the need for identity in conflict and peace observed that the perceived identity of individuals and societies can often act as a catalyst for conflict, and in order for

KARACHI: Noted social scientist Prof Hasan Askari addressing the international conference at KU, recently. — ST photo

lasting peace to be achieved, it is sometimes necessary for individuals and societies to come to a different understanding of their own identity and relationship to the world.

Presenting his research paper, Dr Najimdeen Bakare of NUST University Islamabad mentioned that globalisation is a phenomenal process; potential enough to produce multidimensional outcomes. Contemporary globalisation is considered as the harbinger of economic prosperity geared at flattening the world; it is undeniable that the same phenomenon has produced multiple outcomes.

The Dean Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences, KU, Professor Dr Muhammad Ahmed Qadri delivered his papers on geostrategic importance of Karachi and Gwadar cities: with reference to the China Pakistan economic corridor (CPEC).

He informed that a few years ago the name ‘Gwadar’ was unfamiliar to the world

‘Youth consume drugs more than ever’ tion against them, “I have launched a massive operation against drugs and you all have to support us to eradicate drugs from the country.”

The additional IG Karachi mentioned that provincial police will soon induct young students as volunteers, who will assist police in KARACHI: Karachi Police chief being presented with the memento their operations. “I inat Iqra University. — ST photo vite the members of

By Our Correspondent IYP to be a part of our team and give suggestions for the betterment of police system.”

Sharing the plan, Dr Shaikh said that a task KARACHI: Talking about the ascending number of drug consumers Karachi Police force of students from every college and varChief Dr Amir Ahmed Shaikh said that fol- sity will be made in this regard. "The task lowing up western trend, youngsters are force will work with us in the eradication of taking more drugs than ever. Drug addic- drugs." He also announced to soon launch a tion is dangerously high; more than half of website which will provide complete awarethe drug addicts are students including fe- ness about drugs.

Around 64pc population of Pakistan conmales.

Speaking as guest speaker at the Iqra sists of youth and if they are provided adeYouth Parliament (IYP), Iqra University, Ad- quate exposure and opportunities, they can ditional Inspector General (AIG), Dr Shaikh become an asset to the nation, the Karachi Porevealed that the addiction is spreading among lice chief remarked.

The Commander Sindh Anti-Narcotics students of almost every educational institute.

Non-criminal backgrounders are also in- Force Brig Mansoor Ahmed claimed that all dulged in illegal activities. "An increase in concerned stakeholders are trying hard to get metropolis street crimes has been seen, as in- rid of drugs from the society.

The Chairman IYP Hunaid H Lakhani said dividuals want money to buy drugs."

DIG Karachi informed the parliament that there is a need to understand reasons of about the capture of seven drugs selling gangs youth’s involvement in drugs. He further said adding that 90pc of their customers were stu- that the majority of youth are involved in the dents. He also announced to launch an opera- usage of drugs which is alarming.

except to a few scholars who were familiar with it due to its historical importance, as well as the deep sea of Arabia.

Earlier, Dr Qadri in his speech at the inaugural session of the conference expressed that development of peace and harmony remains an important task not only for heads of state but also for the international scholarly community. Scholars and experts from the disciplines of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences have a much more important role to play in the promotion of peace than any other discipline.

Scholars’ role Scholars demanded induction of ‘studies of peace’ in all higher educational institutions of the country. They at the concluding ceremony of the international conference recommended the government to seek the assistance of scholars while preparing the foreign and interior policies of the country.

The resolutions recommended the government and masses both could take economic, moral, legal and social benefits through social sciences. On part of education, teachers while educating their students regarding promotion of peace could defeat the terrorism and extremism.

The Chairperson of Pakistan Institute of International Affairs Dr Masooma Hassan said that most of the females are not aware of laws regarding women’s rights. While talking about Kashmir issue, she said dialogues should not discontinue as it is the only solution on Kashmir issue.

Chairperson Department of Political Science, Professor Dr Summer Sultana emphasised upon increasing awareness about the physical and mental health of harassmentvictims and to promote the implementation of laws against this brutality, such as Act of 2010 which is against any kind of harassment towards women.

Meanwhile, Dr Muhammad Ali of the University of Karachi presented his paper on EU policy towards Kashmir issue: challenges and prospects. Highlighting historical perspectives and EU failure in resolving this human dilemma, he also discussed few of the main obstacles which hinder the smooth functioning of peace and reconciliation in South Asia.

He informed the audience that the Indian policy towards the resolution of the Kashmir issue is multifaceted. Unfortunately EU treats India differently in spite of the basic rights’ violation made in Kashmir. He pointed out that reasons that hinder EU to take the issue seriously include European Union cannot afford India’s anger because of her status as an emerging market. The EU is only economically and commercially interested in South Asia, according to him.

AKUEB applauds position holders

KARACHI: AKU-EB Secondary School Certificate high achievers with President Aga Khan University, Firoz Rasul and chief guest Dr Zainab Samad. — ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: The Aga Khan University Examination Board (AKU-EB) celebrated 146 High Achievers across Pakistan for their outstanding performance in Secondary School Certificate (SSC) and Higher Secondary School Certificate (HSSC) examinations in Karachi, recently.

The Board had conducted annual SSC and HSSC examinations in 35 examination centers in 22 cities of Pakistan. The results were announced on July 30 this year with outstanding performance. In all 190 awards were given out to students for high overall scores, subject group-wise scores and in individual subjects.

Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Medicine, AKU, Dr Zainab Samad as Chief Guest showed gratitude to AKU-EB for raising the education bar. She applauded, "AKU-EB has done a great service to society in the country.”

State of the art technology and E-marking process was used in exam centres to ensure

100pc transparency, said a press release.

"Over 21pc of qualifying SSC students secured an A-1 Grade. Further 52.3pc secured a minimum of an overall A or B Grade. Maintaining this impressive trend, 19pc of qualifying HSSC students secured an A-1 Grade, with 58.1pc securing a minimum of an overall A or B Grade."

AKU-EB Director Dr Shehzad Jeeva said, “The sheer diversity of students, whether it be by gender, socio-economic background or geographical location, who has performed brilliantly under the AKU-EB system serves as an affirmation that this examination board is one that is truly accessible to all Pakistanis.”

HSSC first position holder in Pre-Medical subject group, Maryam Ihsan advised, “You will not find answers of AKU-EB examination questions in any book unless your understanding of concepts is clear,” she continued “Set your mind to the task and you will make it through.” She is also a subject High Achiever in Chemistry.

10 I ROUND-UP

I Friday,December 14, 2018

KARACHI: Organisers and participants of a capacity building workshop for doctors at Sessi, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: Participants and experts with senior faculty members and organisers of a medical workshop at the Karachi Medical and Dental College, recently.— ST photo

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Imran Ismail handing out degree to a graduate at the 15th convocation of Bahria University Karachi, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: Mayor Waseem Akhtar handing out the trophy of Mayor Karachi Gold Cup Hockey Tournament to the winning team, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: DMC Central Chairman Rehan Hashmi presenting shield to the winners of All Karachi Mayor Cup Football Cup Championship, recently. — ST photo

KARACHI: Engineer Rashid Ikram presenting the memento to a delegation from KMC that visited KPT, last week. — ST photo

NEWS I 11

I Friday,December 14, 2018

Sindh to mainstream specially-abled persons: minister the

KARACHI: Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister Murtaza Wahab speaking at the seminar organised

by FPCCI at its auditorium. — ST photo

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: To ensure and safeguard rights of specially-abled persons the Sindh government took initiative and passed a significant disability law ‘Sindh Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities Act’, which includes almost all incapacities.

In a seminar held to mark International Disability Day last week, Adviser to Sindh Chief Minister on Information & Archives, Law, and Anti-Corruption & Establishment Murtaza Wahab informed about government priorities and initiative of the law in Sindh.

The seminar was organised by

– being presented with the shield.

standing committee for Hospitals, Clinics, and Laboratories of the Federation of Pakistan Chamber of Commerce and Industry in collaboration with the Karachi Vocational Training Centre.

Mr Wahab said, “The government considers the children with disabilities as specially-abled chil-

dren. Sindh government is well aware of their rights and measures needed to protect them.”

He informed the participants that the law, passed by the Provincial Assembly of Sindh this year on May 24, has an approach stressing equality of opportunity; education right in all public and private institutions. It also addresses the prob-

Medical waste disposal ...

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health engineering departments, sanitation and solid waste management bodies to overcome the issue of long persisting health care waste management issues.

He hoped that the provincial health commissioners will also expedite its works on the subject and at least will ensure for practical purpose a real time confirmed data on hospitals and clinics and laboratories first.

A senior officer overseeing the medical waste affairs at the Civil Hospital Karachi said that the proper sorting of healthcare wastes before their ultimate distribution or disposal is the most crucial element of any waste management agenda. “Hospitals and other health care delivery units should ensure clear identification of each type of waste by using colorcoded containers or bags to store healthcare waste.

Engineer A A Chandani who has con-

ducted surveys on the subject of healthcare waste said that a potential peril to human health or the environment is when medical waste is improperly treated, stored, transported, or disposed. He stressed for efforts to control the careless throwing of medical waste by health care workers in the public dustbins and also suggested for setting up of incinerators at all the district headquarters of Sindh.

He observed that the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency (Sepa) has laws to curb the menace of improper handling of medical waste and force the hospitals observe safe medical practices.

However, commenting on the performance of concerned government agencies, a keen observer noted that Sepa has been failing to come up to the expectations as it was handicapped both in terms of human resources and government financing, while the solid waste management board was still unable to take over the waste control activities from a couple of dis-

New global CO2...

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Coal is a more complicated story One piece of good news: Coal consumption has been declining steadily since 2013. Global energy consumption from coal is declining on average almost 1 percent per year. In Canada and the U.S., coal consumption dropped 40 percent since 2005. Coal may be phased out entirely in the United Kingdom by 2025, and in the E.U. renewables may supply more primary energy than coal by 2021.

However, the declines in coal in these countries could eventually be eclipsed by increased use of coal in other countries who currently lack energy access and are undertaking efforts to provide reliable energy accordingly. Coal consumption has been increasing in the Asia Pacific and Central/South America regions by 3 percent per year over the last decade. In India alone, the consumption of coal has risen almost 5 percent per year in recent years

and now is greater than that of the E.U. and U.S. combined. Yet significant numbers of people in India—hundreds of millions—still lack access to reliable sources of electricity.

Emissions likely to increase in 2019 The picture is uncertain in 2019, but a key publication associated with the Global Carbon Project expects even further increases in 2019 given the persistent growth in oil and natural gas and projected economic growth next year. This is deeply troubling considering that the latest climate science suggests emissions should peak by 2020 to have a good chance of avoiding some of the worst climate impacts.

When the Global Carbon Project’s initial figures came out last year suggesting that 2017 ended a period of emissions flattening, it was difficult to tell whether it was a temporary uptick or indicative of

tricts, and as such is not available in all the six districts of Karachi even for solid waste management purposes.

A senior Director (Technical) at Sepa, Waqar Hussain Phulpoto, said that the hospital waste falls within the hazardous waste category, and institutions handling it improperly can be prosecuted under the Sindh Environmental Protection Act 2014.

Estimating that there were 100 hospitals in the province, having 30-100 beds each, majority of which have been surveyed by Sepa to assess their compliance of the hospital waste management rules and environmental laws.

“Under the provision of SEP Act, owners/administrators/representatives of the healthcare and allied facilities are issued notices and given the opportunity of a personal hearing as well,” Mr Phulpoto added and informed that a number of hospitals have been prosecuted and subjected to financial penalties as well.

He warned that not only the existing hos-

a longer trend. It’s of course still challenging to tell with just a few years of data, but it is now clear that 2017 wasn’t just an outlier.

We have no signs that emissions are stabilizing, let alone swiftly declining, which is necessary if we are to meet the Paris Agreement’s temperature goals.

Hopefully the negotiators in the halls of Katowice, Poland are hearing the Earth’s distress calls—in the form of unusual storms, heat waves, and fires—that further ambition is needed. Parties have an opportunity to put forward more ambitious national commitments by 2020, and they should do so as soon as possible. Greater ambition is also needed on financing to provide adequate support to developing countries to make a transition to a low carbon economy. It will be critical for Parties to consider if they can commit to peak emissions more quickly, peak at lower emissions levels and decline emissions much more rapidly for those countries that have already peaked emissions.

– Courtesy: WRI

lem of early identification and prevention of disabilities by ensuring implementation of the Sindh Newborn Screening Act (2013) and increasing the capacity of provincial health workers.

The Adviser further disclosed about trauma centres establishment in Sindh to provide quality health services for mental as well as physical incapacities. He quoted Autism Centre and Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation established at Dow University of Health Sciences as an example of quality health services.

Senator Abdul Haseeb Khan applauded the efforts of Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah who, according to him, handed over a cheque of Rs25 million to the Karachi Vocational Training Centre for the assistance of special persons.

Syed Mazhar Ali Nasirn Senior Vice President of FPCCI presided over the event, while Dr Farhan Essa Abdullah, Chairman of the standing committee in question, writer Anwer Maqsood also spoke on the occasion. Specially-abled children presented tableau at the end of the seminar.

pitals and medical facilities, but every new hospital is required also to obtain environmental approval from Sepa for their operations.

When contacted, Senior Director Municipal Services, KMC, Noman Arshad said that over 200 hospitals, clinics, maternity homes, including those from private sector, at present are availing the medical waste incineration facility of KMC. “We manage the waste through private contractors, who on payments from the health centres not only collect the hospital waste but ensure a proper burning of that at the two KMC plants, run on an alternate basis in view of the work load,” he added, saying that an accumulated 5-8 tonnes of healthcare wastes are disposed of through the plants on a daily basis.

A Sindh Solid Waste Management Board official maintained that the Board was yet to start any collection and disposal of hospital waste in the city. At the moment the board is upgrading and developing its landfill sites and garbage transfer stations, following which it will go for a hospital waste management plan and its execution, the official added.

‘Gas project Countries en route to to increase fuel security developing transplant... in the...

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EMC Project Manager Saqib Ejaz Hussain highlighting the timelines of the project said that the two billion dollar project in question may begin in 2020 and will be completed by 2022. The survey pertaining to environmental and social impacts has already been started, while the EMC is likely to submit the assessment report to Sepa in the first quarter of 2019.

Some of the experts highlighted the issues of land acquisition, right of way for the project, re-settlement of population, if affected any, tree-cutting, forest or land erosion, relocation of habitat, water body crossing, security of the pipeline and corporate social responsibility during the scoping meeting.

Prof Rizvi recounted the struggle against commercialism and unethical practices of organ trade and transplantation. He highlighted the efforts and success of his team in establishing a successful transplant programme in the country.

Dr Rehan Mohsin, Dr Tahir Aziz, Dr Nasir Luck and Dr Haider Mehdi of SIUT also spoke at the seminar and discussed the importance of deceased organ donation programme. “According to an estimate one person dies in the country every three minutes due to organ failure, which include 60 thousand kidney patients, 90 thousand liver and 20 thousand of heart every year.”

People’s right to wellness

Friday, December 14, 2018

KARACHI: Dr A Q Khan and KU Vice Chancellor Dr Muhammad Ajmal Khan with senior scientists, faculty members and students who attended the conference, recently. — ST photo

‘Pakistan can progress like Turkey’

By Our Correspondent KARACHI: “Pakistan has a lot of natural resources and with serious commitment and determination, this country can progress like Turkey and Malaysia within a span of five years,” said the noted nuclear scientist Dr Abdul Qadeer Khan while speaking at the inaugural session of four-day 14th Biennial Conference organised by the Pakistan Society for Biochemistry and Molecular Biology (PSBMB) and Dr A Q Khan Institute of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering (Kibge), University of Karachi last week.

Dr Khan was the chief guest on the first day of the conference on molecular biosciences. Also a metallurgical engineer, he informed the audience that it is always his

pleasure to attend such informative events at KU. “I am so proud to be a former student of this prestigious institution.”

He observed that Pakistan has tremendous talent but unfortunately, the expertise of competent individuals and groups are not utilised and merit is not valued. “In Pakistan, we need to utilise the abilities and skills of competent people and then we can succeed too.”

He also said that the country needs new dams but insisted that the countrymen and the government should also work on alternate options. “As we have learnt from the past, such mega projects are never completed on time due to which their construction cost increases,” he said. “As a nation we have to carefully use water at our homes, industries and agricultural lands to reduce the water shortage issue.”

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