ISLAMABAD: An important meeting of the Advisory Board was held under the chairmanship of Major General (retd) Masood-ur-Rehman Kayani, President Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH).
The meeting was attended by Secretary General Panah Sana Ullah Ghumman, Gen (retd) Ashraf Khan, Gen (retd) Ashur Khan, Gen (retd) Azhar Rashid, Dr Qayyum, Dr Wajid Ali and other members.The meeting discussed important issues of PANAH .
On this occasion, a resolution was tabled to raise awareness on the root causes of heart disease and the dangers of sugary drinks and smoking, which was unanimously approved.
The meeting noted that sugary drinks are more dangerous than smoking. It also noted that smoking is considered harmful , but not sugary drinks.
“What is considered less dangerous is more dangerous, its use has become fashion, pushing young children and young people towards diseases”, the meeting observed..
According to PANAH,this is a serious issue that needs to be addressed. Children and adults need to be made aware of the dangers of sugary drinks that are used in combination with children and adults.
“This is not just a matter of an individual or an institution, it must mobilize the law-making and enforcement agencies.A large number of people are suffering from heart, cancer, stomach, diabetes, obesity and other diseases due to sugary drinks and smoking, the treatment of which is very expensive, beyond the reach of the poor.”, the meeting members added.
They argued modern research shows that people with heart, obesity, diabetes and diet-related diseases have a higher risk of complications and death in Covid 19. They deplired that during this epidemic, the availability of sugary drinks has increased, leading to obesity, heart disease and other ailments.
During the meeting, an appeal was made to Prime Minister Imran Khan that it was a good decision of the Prime Minister to pass a bill to curb sugary drinks and smoking, but it could not be implemented.With the implementation of health levy, people will be able to reduce use of sugary drinks that will reduce risk to their lives.
