‘Sanitation, education, vital to prevent diseases’

LAHORE LLThe World Health Day is marked every year on April 7 to highlight the significance of a healthy lifestyle and importance of awareness about it. This year’s theme of the day is “Universal Health Coverage: Everyone, Everywhere.”

“The theme is quite relevant especially to the developing countries like Pakistan, as to a certain extent; health stands last on the list of priorities of a common person,” said Dr Faisal Sultan, chief executive officer, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) in a statement issued by the hospital on the eve of World Health Day.

He said, “Health is everyone’s business and in their interest. No real changes occur unless society at large is involved. Improvement in many health parameters have happened in the West due to improvements in sectors other than health like sanitation, health education and awareness.” He said, “Unfortunately, we are lagging far behind in this field and a classic proof of this is typhoid illness which usually spreads due to bad sanitation. It travels through feces into the sewerage system and onwards into drinking water supply, reaches the human body. Once typhoid germs were drug sensitive in our country, but with the passage of time, it has become a drug resistant bacteria and we are left with only one or two options of drugs to deal with typhoid, which is an alarming situation.”

Actually, instead of drugs, improved sanitation is the real solution to deal with such diseases, which, unfortunately, is a neglected issue in Pakistan. However, there is much more to just improving health sector. It also concerns general education, health education, food supply safety, good municipal administration, to name just a few, and on a large scale, it is called ‘one health concept’ that covers not only human health but environment and animal health as well, he stated.

He added, “Awareness about healthy lifestyle and its prerequisites is very important especially in the era of social media and incorrect or fake news. “We see people believing lots of wrong information regarding vaccinations and other health issues. The ability to research correct and scientifically valid information is ever more important today, he said.

Dr Faisal said, “On this World Health Day we must analyse and figure out what are the major health hazards in our country. We are still to combat malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, diarrheal diseases, infections of a number of types, tuberculosis, hepatitis, mental health and other issues. As a developing country, while we still face infections and their impacts, we also face non-communicable diseases like diabetes and kidney diseases.

Talking about the role played by SKMCH&RC in improving health awareness and in provision of healthcare facilities, Dr Faisal Sultan said, “Other than providing cutting edge diagnostic and therapeutic services to thousands of cancer patients, it has also played a vital role in imparting and improving awareness level of common public through extensive campaigns on various health issues especially on smoking and breast cancer. The presence of a high-profile patron like Imran Khan had helped propel the message about the curability of many cancers and the need for prevention and early detection.

In addition to the treatment of patients and awareness drives, one most significant and proud contribution to the health sector is training of health professionals, paramedical staff, nurses, health care professionals and doctors, he stated.

Talking about the various ways to improve health, he elaborated, “It is important to watch what you eat. Always take a mixed and balanced diet comprising ingredients especially vegetables, fruits and nuts. Make exercise part of your daily routine and maintain an ideal body weight. Besides, vaccinate, it can help avoid many viral and infectious diseases. Smoking causes a number of heart cancer related and other diseases so it must be avoided. Ensure personal, especially dental hygiene. Get regular checkups for yourself and your family and never hesitate to report unexplained symptoms and conditions to your doctor.”

While answering some questions about the government’s role in the health sector, he was of the view, “Through its efforts, the government can change the entire scenario of the prevailing situation. This sector needs allocation of better resources and management of the existing resources in an improved way. Capable management in the health sectors whether in preventive or curative health is crucial. At present, only 30 per cent of health care is provided by the government, which is a very low ratio. In certain areas and diseases, the role of the government is pivotal.

Dr Faisal Sultan said that health had a very broad and big agenda. “The government’s role is to regulate quality, not prices, to maintain at least minimum standards,” he added.