LAHORE: Poultry stakeholders have called for launching an awareness campaign to remove misunderstandings about use of feed and medicines in the sector that harm human health.

At an open discussion held at the University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences (UVAS) here on Wednesday, they emphasised starting a campaign through social and electronic media for consumer education, removing any ambiguity and concerns about the use of steroids, hormones and antibiotics in poultry and its feed.

They said joint efforts are needed by academia and industry for development of the poultry industry.

They suggested that it is direly needed to form a committee for conducting market-based research, collecting data regarding per capita income and saving, demand and behaviour of consumer, marketing forecast and financial analysis.

The participants said serious working is required to solve disease and production issues for the profitability of the poor farming community.

Vice Chancellor Dr Talat Naseer Pasha, who presided over the meeting and sought suggestions and technical input from stakeholders for development of the sector, gave a detailed presentation on the contribution of UVAS in poultry sector.

He spoke about the poultry meat consumption, leading exporters of halal food, waste management, use of poultry farm litter, breeding and genetics, UVAS collaboration with national and international organisations, future plans on consumer awareness, disease control, market interventions, poultry processing and value addition, halal certification for export and improvement in rural poultry.

Dr Paul D Ebner, a professor of animal sciences from Purdue University, spoke about development and commercialisation of antibiotic alternatives for poultry production in Pakistan.

Representatives of Pakistan Poultry Association, stakeholders from public and private organisations including Khalil Sattar, Dr Abdul Kareem Bhatti, Muhammad Nusrat Tahir and a number of academicians, researchers and professionals were in attendance.

SEMINAR: Home Economics University (HEU) Department of Human Development and Family Studies on Wednesday organised an awareness seminar on “Autism, ADHD and Specific Learning Disorders”.

Speakers included Rukhsana Shah and Farah Amanat from the Autism Spectrum Disorder Welfare Trust (ASDWT) who gave detailed presentations on these different neurological and personality disorders among children.

They discussed diagnostic and management techniques for these disorders, including the use of mobile apps and assistive technology for improved outcomes from persons with disabilities.

HEU Vice Chancellor Dr Kanwal Ameen highlighted the rising incidence of neuro developmental as well other personality disorders in the country and the need to create awareness about these disorders among students, teachers and parents.

She stated that the Home Economics University had been running a centre (led by Dr. Attiya Inam) for children with disabilities for a very long time with the help of the university’s clinical psychologists.

She expressed gratitude to Dr. Nuzhat Firdous, Human Development and Family Studies, for organizing the seminar at a very short notice, and thanked the ASDWT for their offer of extended collaboration in this field.

Published in Dawn, September 26th, 2019