ISLAMABAD: President Dr Arif Alvi on Tuesday said the burden of disease on our fragile health system could significantly be reduced by adopting a preventive healthcare system against communicable and non-communicable diseases by promoting a healthy lifestyle, regular exercise and observing cleanliness.

The president made these remarks while addressing the convocation ceremony of Foundation University College of Dentistry. The ceremony was attended by faculty members, graduating students and their parents in large numbers.

Addressing the ceremony, President Alvi stressed on the importance of creating awareness about early detection of illness and disease, promoting preventive means to avoid disease by adopting a healthy lifestyle and by treating their patients with utmost care, kindness and compassion which, he said, made a huge difference in reassuring the patients and resolving their health issues.

He emphasised that oral ailments could be significantly decreased by just educating people on the importance of practicing oral hygiene and healthcare.

He said that maintenance of healthy teeth throughout life prevents spread of diseases as well and enables people to lead a happy and healthy life.

The president regretted that almost 50pc of women leave the medical profession either after or before marriage which was a huge loss to the country and society. He called for steps to reverse this trend and urged parents to support their daughters towards working.

He emphasised that the government must take steps to provide a secure and enabling environment and create opportunities for them to perform their official duties online or on flexible timings and schedules to enable them to work and raise their families comfortably.

The president said that there was need to reduce the stress level in society by educating masses regarding handling and avoiding fake news, respecting privacy of individuals, and portraying messages and the statements in their true context. He said that statements and sentences quoted out of reference and context add to the confusion and anxiety in society and, therefore, should be handled effectively.

The president congratulated young graduates at the start of their professional life and advised them to keep pursuing knowledge and be humble in their personal and professional lives.

Earlier, the president gave away medals and certificates to distinguished graduates. Retired Major General Dr Imran Fazal, director of Foundation University School of Health Sciences, presented the annual report of the university.

Published in Dawn, October 12th, 2022