INGOs to help end trachoma in Pakistan by 2021

LAHORE : A joint delegation of Fred Hollow Foundation of Australia and CBM Italy called on the Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Khawaja Salman Rafique and Minister for Primary and Secondary Health Khawaja Imran Nazir in their offices separately on Thursday.

According to a handout issued here, the delegation was jointly headed by FHF Programme Director John Crail and CBM Chief Executive Massimo Maggio. Prof Asad Aslam said 2021 had been set as a target to eliminate trachoma from Pakistan for which both NGOs would extend full cooperation and technical assistance.

Prof Asad Aslam briefed the minister on the services of Fred Hollow Foundation and it assistance for prevention and treatment of eye diseases and strengthening of ophthalmological departments in public sector health facilities by providing equipment and training to the human resource.

FHF Programme Director John Crail said that his foundation and CBM would extend all out cooperation in the national survey of blindness in Pakistan. Prof Asad Aslam informed that the first survey of blindness was conducted in 1989 and the second survey was conducted in 2004, whereas, the third national survey of blindness would start in September 2018.

Unity: Speakers at a Pakistan Day event on Thursday said March 23 is an unforgettable day in Pakistan’s national history, as the day marked the momentous occasion when people resolved to struggle for an independent state based on principles of equality and justice.

Addressing faculty and students of the Kinnaird Academy High School for Girls at a Pakistan Day function, arranged by the Presbyterian Education Board (PEB), they urged the new generation to equip them with the latest knowledge and adopt positive approach and thinking about society, and follow moral and spiritual values.

TB: World Health Organization (WHO) has ranked Pakistan fifth among Tuberculosis (TB) high-burden countries worldwide, with some 5,10,000 registered TB cases and some 15,000 developing drug resistant TB cases every year. According to a press release, Pakistan Kidney and Liver Institute and Research Center organised a seminar on Thursday to observe World Tuberculosis Day to sensitise public about TB.

A large number of consultants, paramedical staff and pharmacists attended the seminar. peace moot: Punjab University Thursday held a conference on “Peace, Harmony and Nationalism”. Speakers of the conference stressed the need to promote peace and integrity to eliminate violence from society. They also asked the teachers and students to play their role in minimising the culture of intolerance.

Basic health: The Lahore General Hospital (LGH) Thursday observed World Kidney Day by organising an awareness walk and a seminar. Post Graduate Medical Institute (PGMI) Principal Prof Dr Ghias-un-Nabi Tayyab and medical experts addressed the seminar.

According to a press release, theme of the seminar was “Kidneys and Women's Health, Include, Value and Empower". Two patients who got free kidney transplant at LGH were the guests of honour in the seminar. Prof Sajjad Hussain, Prof Tariq Salah-ud-Din, Prof Muhammad Nazir, Medical Superintendent Dr Mehmood Salah-ud-Din, Prof Hafiz Shahbaz Ashraf, Dr Aurangzeb Faisal, Dr Shah Jahan and Razia Bano addressed the seminar. Dr Ghias-un-Nabi said public must be informed about basic health principles.