Discovering Diabetes: A joint-venture of PharmEvo and Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) launched
Discovering Diabetes: A joint-venture of
PharmEvo and Pakistan Endocrine
Society (PES) launched
By Mubarak Ali
KARACHI: Poor eating habits especially excessive use of rice along with carbonated drinks, is the leading cause of diabetes in the country where around 26 percent of the adult population is suffering from diabetes. There is an immediate need for modification of Pakistani cuisine. Everything we are usually eating should be avoided, especially rice in the form of Biryani, soft drinks and the so-called fast food. The only recreation in Pakistan is eating in abundance, which is making us a diseased nation. Pakistan is facing an epidemic of diabetes where millions of adult Pakistanis are now living with diabetes which is an obesity-driven disease globally. This was stated by Prof. Tasnim Ahsan while speaking during launching ceremony of Discovering Diabetes: a joint-venture of Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) and PharmEvo (Pvt.) Ltd.
The Discovering Diabetes project under which a helpline has been established to help people know their status of diabetes and get consultation with leading diabetologists of the country. The launching ceremony of the discovering diabetes project was held at a local hotel on March 3rd, 2021. Launch event was addressed by Prof. Tasnim Ahsan, Prof. Zaman Shaikh, Mr. Haroon Qasim, Mr. Jamshed Ahmed and Mr. Imran Abbas. Dr. Abrar Ahmed and Prof. Javed Iqbal, participated through video link. Mr. Wasim Badami a TV anchor moderated the programme. The project Media partner is Aaj TV.
Group Photograph taken at the Discovering Diabetes launch meeting held at Karachi
shows from (L to R) Mr. Rauf Imam, Mr. Mansoor Khan, Syed Jamshed Ahmed, Mr. Wasim
Badami, Prof. Zaman Shaikh, Prof. Tasnim Ahsan, Mr. Imran Abbas, Mr. Haroon Qassim,
Mr. Abdus Samad Siddiqui, Mr. Agha Sadiq Mirza and Mr. Mohsin Sheraz Ali.
Prof. Tasnim Ahsan further stated that lack of physical activities in addition to excessive food intake and marrying in the families are some other causes of diabetes. Over 50 percent of the people living with diabetes don’t know of their health status, and they only come to know about their disease when their eyes, kidneys, heart and brain suffer irreparable damage. She urged people to get advantage of the Discovering Diabetes helpline to know their health status and start taking preventive measures if they are not diabetics.
Prof. Zaman Shaikh, in his remarks said that diabetes is a silent killer disease, which is killing hundreds of thousands of people in Pakistan annually, but, unfortunately majority of people are unaware of their disease and consider it as an unimportant health issue. Untreated diabetes can lead to an increased risk of heart attack and stroke, erectile dysfunction, foot problems, gum disease, eye and kidney disease, and many other problems. If treatment is not started early, it is too late to reverse any damage once symptoms become more noticeable. When people come to us after living with diabetes for several years, their vital organs have already been damaged. Diabetes causes permanent damage to eyes, kidneys, cause heart attacks and fatal strokes, he added.
PharmEvo Deputy Chief Executive Officer Syed Jamshed Ahmed highlighting the salient features of the Discovering Diabetes project said they have launched the project in collaboration with the Pakistan Endocrine Society (PES) as a community service and to help millions of people who are living with this disease but are unaware of their health status due to lack of education and risk factors that cause diabetes. What we are going to do is, we will reach in every house with partnership of many people, through toll free number (0800-66766), caller will be asked few simple questions and will be informed about his/her risk assessment number. Facility of Free blood sugar test will be provided and we will also arrange appointment with diabetologists. Burden of diabetes is huge and there is dire need to create awareness. We have involved smart people in this campaign who are role models for us, they can teach people and convince them to be smart because seeing is believing. We have to work for People so that society not only nurture and develop but also grow. We have to act now and work for people otherwise in next thirty years we will not be able to control this diseases burden, he concluded.
Mr. Wasim Abbas, said unawareness and lack of information nowadays is a sin. We believe in myths, especially women. Self-medication is also very rampart in our society, No single diabetes treatment is best for everyone, and what works for one person may not work for another. Your doctor can determine how a specific medication or multiple medications may fit into your overall diabetes treatment plan and help you understand the advantages and disadvantages of specific diabetes drugs. Insulin is life. It brings happiness in life of diabetics, he added. Family plays an important role in the management of diabetes. Physical activity is very important, come to the healthy life style not only to look good but to stay healthy and to stay in the World.
Prof. Javed Iqbal, stated that diabetes is a very important ailment which effect various organs of the body. Facility of Free blood sugar test is very noble cause, it will help to provide awareness and will help to meet proper treatment. It is a very noble project being started by PES and PharmEvo. There is a need of National Policy to make health our priority and government should make a Think Tank where Diabetes and hypertension should be our top priority. Dr. Abrar Ahmed highlighted the various activities of Pakistan Endocrine Society.
Mr. Haroon Qassim, Managing Director PharmEvo in his remarks informed that it is over twenty years when PharmEvo started its journey with a resolve to promote healthy society. He thanked PES for partnering with PharmEvo to tackle a disease which have achieved an epidemic proportion now. Discovering diabetes is PharmEvo’s initiative in answering the alarming state of disease prevalence in the country. Straggling 20 million to 44 million plus people are living with diabetes in Pakistan and almost half of them are undiagnosed. Only way to tackle diabetes, he stated is to spreading awareness and contribute to save as many as live as possible. My humble advice is to start it from school level, we have to make children aware what diabetes is, because the children are influencers in the society now, they can influence their parents as well. Make diabetes and other health subject’s part of the curriculum. Media and the government should play its role to spread awareness about diabetes, take schools on board, and make this priority where we can make the children influence the elders to bring a change in spread of diabetes. Every child should know what they should eat and how to live a healthy life to prevent themselves from contracting diabetes, blood pressure and other lifestyle diseases, Mr. Haroon Qasim added.