President Alvi calls for implementation of the already existing health policies in letter & spirit to save many lives
PESHAWAR, Feb 23 (SABAH): President Dr. Arif Alvi here Thursday underlined the need for creating mass awareness about non-communicable diseases and active role of all stakeholders including political leadership and media in this regard.
Addressing as a chief guest during the third international public health conference on “Breaking the manacle: non-communicable diseases” here at Khyber Medical University (KMU), President Dr. Arif Alvi said that most of the diseases including cancer were non-communicable and if diagnosed and treated at an early stage could save precious lives.
He said lung cancer and breast cancer were also curable if diagnosed timely and that late diagnoses and treatment could prove fatal.
President Dr. Arif Alvi suggested that special programs should be aired and broadcast on media, especially during morning shows for public awareness about communicable and non-communicable diseases for a healthy and prosperous society.
The President called for the implementation of the already existing health policies in letter and spirit to save many lives. “We have all the required policies but lacked implementation,” he maintained.
He said the rapidly increasing population was exerting extraordinary pressure on the economy and national resources, adding that nine million pregnancies were being reported annually in the country which included about 50 percent unwanted pregnancies.
President Dr. Arif Alvi said that contraceptive techniques were being used in the world to control unwanted pregnancies and birth rates and suggested the use of such techniques here also to overcome the issue of overpopulation and poverty with a view to creating a balance between economic resources and population.
The President observed that arm-twisting among political forces would hardly serve any purpose rather our focus should be made on the resolution to the issues of national priority.
President Dr. Arif Alvi advised the doctors’ community to do intellectual exercises and educate their patients during the treatment process for a healthy and prosperous society.
Earlier, the President was warmly welcomed upon reaching to the venue and was briefed about the objectives of the international conference.
The conference was attended by national and international doctors, health experts, scholars, faculty members of KMU and students.