RAWALPINDI:Hilal Imtiaz surgeon general Nigar Johar on Saturday said that life is a blessing and it should be valued and the factors that are a threat to it should be eliminated through administrative measures.
She noted that the most effective way to do this is through taxation, which requires practical steps from the government.
The surgeon general of Pak military was addressing a two-day international conference on “Non-Communicable Diseases” (NCDs) as a chief guest organized by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) here,
She was accompanied by Maj. Gen. (retd) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani, Chairman, Panah.Lt. Gen. (R) Azhar Rashid,Major General (R) Ashraf Khan,Lt. Gen. (R) Kamal Akbar,Maj. Gen. Mazhara Ashfaq,Major General Farhan Tayyab Commandant AFIC, General Secretary Sana Ullah Ghumman,Cardiologist Major Naseer Ahmad Samoor,Cardiologist Brigadier Abdul Hameed Siddiqui,Rifa University Principal Lt. Gen. Azhar Rashid,President Pakistan Family Physician Dr. Manzoor Ahmad, Consultant Physician Heart International Col (retd) Junaid Saleem, Professor of Medicine Dr. Shahid Ahmad, UNICEF Representatives, CTF Country Head Malik Imran Ahmed,, Dr. Shahid Baig Chairman Pakistan Science Foundation, Dr. Shehzad,Mrs.Dr Shamim Sarfraz, Dr. Samra and others,from other countries Dr. Barry Popkin, PhD from USA University, Dr. Ayub Al-Javada, Regional Advisor and Nutrition WH, Dr. Abdul Basit, Associate Director, Global Health Advocacy Incubator, GHAI, Miss Elizabeth Arlene,Consultant Cardiologist Dr Nicholas Pantazopoulos attended the conference, who also addressed the participants.
The conference discussed negative effects of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and their prevention.
The conference was hosted by Prof. Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Mirza. The participants were informed that the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, cancer, stomach, liver, stroke, obesity and other diseases can be minimised by reducing the use of unhealthy factors like tobacco, sugar sweetened beverages (SSB), sugar, salt, fat and others.
The professionals recommended walk, use of natural foods to reduce NCDs.
The surgeon general said the purpose of the PANAH is to make people aware of heart diseases.
“Today, the whole world, including Pakistan, is facing problems due to NCDs. It is a worrying process, the use of white sugar and sugar sweetened beverages (SSB) has been declared a threat to human life, so it is time to implement this practice”, Nigar Johar noted.
She lauded the role of PANAH and added that there was little to do, most NCDs are treatable, the only thing is to fix it in time, it is a good idea to hold such a conference to point out such things.
Dr. Barry M Popkin, PhD from USA University, highlighted the harmful effects of sugar sweetened baverages (SSBs) online and said that excessive consumption of sweets is a big problem in Pakistan and SSBs have increased the risk of hypertension, high blood pressure, diabetes and other diseases.
He said “This has become a problem not only for Pakistan but for the whole world”.
He suggested that imposition of tax can reduce the use of SSBs. The professionals suggested 16 to 25 percent tax should be imposed on SSBs.
Consultant Cardiologist Dr Nicholas Pantazopoulos said that Pakistan and our country have similar health problems, one in ten people die of heart disease.Therefore, we can reduce the risk by 13% by exercising.
PANAH Chairman Major General (retd) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani said that after every two minutes, a person in Pakistan loses his life due to heart attack.
He said PANAH has been informing the public about the risk factors for other diseases, including heart for 37 years .
AFIC Commandant Farhan Tayyab said only 10% of people can properly control their diabetes, 46% of our population is obese, 62% suffer from stroke and 42% suffer from chronic heart disease. It is also harmful to the human body. The government should inform the public and impose a tax on it, ban tobacco advertising.