LAHORE: On the eve of International Day of Epilepsy, an awareness walk and seminar was arranged under the auspices of Department of Neurology at Lahore General Hospital and Punjab Institute of Neuro Sciences.
Head of PINS, Prof. Khalid Mahmood, Prof. Ahsan Noman, Prof. Asif Bashir, MS Dr. Mahmood Salahuddin, Dr. Mohsin Zaheer, Dr. Shahid Mukhtar and doctors, nurses and medical students in a large number were present. Prof. Khalid Mahmood said that with the passage of time it had proved that epilepsy is 100 per cent curable disease, however, its timely and proper diagnosis is important. He said that unfortunately Pakistan had the highest percentage of the disease and infection, TB, typhoid and high fever are the main reasons of epilepsy in our country. Prof. Khalid said that with a little care pregnant women could deliver babies with the disease, however, doctors should determine the difference between epilepsy and other fits.
The head of Neuro Sciences Institute said that out of total 60m patients of epilepsy in the world, 2.2m belong to Pakistan but only 50,000 of them opt for treatment. He said that it is dire need that apart from doctors, media, civil society, ulema and social organizations should play their role in creating awareness among the masses about epilepsy. People should not adhear to uncertified versions and adopt a proper method for treatment of the disease like others.
Prof. Ahsan Noman and Prof. Asif Bashir said that in epilepsy in children the growing portion of the brain was in danger to be damaged or injured, so it was the duty of the doctor to determine it was epileptic fit or not and proper treatment be ensured. Dr. Mohsin Zaheer and Dr. Shahid Mukhtar and other speakers emphasized that epilepsy should be taken as a common disease, though the disease has many branches and examples for which correct diagnosis has great importance. Meanwhile, an awareness walk was also arranged in Lahore General Hospital at Neurology Department in which doctors, nurses and medical students participated.
OPC: Chairperson Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Punjab Ch Waseem Akhtar has said that the commission is working on a comprehensive policy to deal with the issues of Pakistani expatriates at the earliest.
He expressed these views while chairing a meeting with the officers of Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Punjab in GOR-I. He instructed the officers to be patient with the complainants and facilitate them. Commissioner Overseas Pakistanis Commission (OPC) Usman Anwar briefed the chairperson about the performance of the commission. Chairperson OPC Ch Waseem Akhtar directed all dealing officers to ensure daily follow-up of each complaint. He said that the officers should avoid stereotype methods for resolution of overseas Pakistanis’ complaints and emphasised on using the latest technology to improve complaints redressal mechanism and to be proactive on the web portal of Overseas Pakistanis Commission. Directors, deputy directors and other officers were present in the meeting.