PESHAWAR: The Khyber Medical University, Peshawar, on Wednesday said it was going to establish 10diabetes care centresfor managing high blood sugar levels and ensuring early diagnosis and treatment of heart problems.

“These centres will be linked with the KMU’s General Hospital after its opening to combat diabetes, which has affected every fourth person in our country,” KMU vice-chancellor Prof Ziaul Haq told a workshop held here to mark the World Heart Day on Wednesday.

Prof Haq said diabetes could be prevented through better public awareness and early diagnosis.

He stressed the need for controlling the increasing prevalence of heart diseases, educating people about preventive measures, encouraging regular heart check-ups, and promoting healthy lifestyle and balanced diets.

VC calls for public awareness to prevent high blood sugar levels

This year’s theme for World Heart Day was “Use Heart for Action,” according to a news release issued by the KMU.

The VC said over 20 million people died worldwide every year due to heart-related conditions, with 85 per cent of those deaths resulting from heart attacks and strokes.

He added that the remaining fatalities happened due to other cardiovascular diseases.

Prof Haq said Pakistan ranked 30th in the world in terms of deaths caused by heart diseases, with a sharp increase in the incidence of cardiovascular conditions.

He noted that more than five million people in the region suffered from high blood pressure.

Health expert Prof Hafizullah, who was the chief guest on the occasion, said people should identify the risk factors present in their own surroundings, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol, and obesity, to prevent heart problems.

“If heart diseases are diagnosed early, they can be prevented. The risk of heart attacks and strokes increases significantly after the age of 40 due to aging and an unhealthy lifestyle, making prevention crucial.” he said Cardiologists Prof Malik Faisal, Prof Mahmoodul Hassan, and Prof Amber Ashraf said that the World Health Organisation’s statistics indicated that 400,000 people in Pakistan died annually from heart diseases, accounting for 29 per cent of all deaths from various diseases.

They said a report by the National Institute of Health revealed that more than 50 people in Pakistan died of heart diseases every hour compared to just 12 deaths per hour five years ago.

The cardiologists said among those who died from heart diseases, 50 per cent were between the ages of 40 and 50 years, with a worrying increase in heart attacks and deaths among individuals aged 30-40.

They added that the disease affected not only adults and young people but also even newborns.

The cardiologists said the Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi reported that 60,000 children were born with heart defects every year, and 60 per cent of them died during their early years due to substandard treatment.

Published in Dawn, October 10th, 2024