Category: Health

12 deaths, 158 new Covid cases in Punjab

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LAHORE: Novel coronavirus claimed 12 more lives and 158 new positive cases were reported in Punjab during the last 24 hours, pushing the tally to 344,799 in the province. According to the data, shared by a spokesperson for the Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD), the death toll has reached 10,615, while 323,925 patients have recovered so far. The P&SHD confirmed that 91 new cases of COVID-19 were reported in Lahore, two each in Kasur, Hafizabad, Mandi Bahauddin, Sargodha, Khushab, Dera Ghazi Khan and Sahiwal district, four in Sheikhupura, 13 in Rawalpindi, one each in Chakwal, Jhang, Bhakkar, Lodhran, Muzaffargarh, Rajanpur, Bahawalpur and Okara, six in Sialkot, 12 each in Faisalabad and Multan during the last 24 hours. The Punjab Health Department had conducted 5,461,913 tests for COVID-19 so far. A spokesman for the department said people should wash their hands with soap several times a day to protect themselves from COVID-19 and contact 1033 immediately on appearance of symptoms of coronavirus.

Secretary Health sees decline in Punjab Corona cases

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LAHORE: Secretary Specialised Healthcare Punjab Nabeel Ahmed Awan has said that decline in corona pandemic cases was witnessed in the province. Out of 7,448 beds reserved in all government hospitals for COVID-19 patients, 6,593 beds are lying unoccupied.

In a handout issued here on Friday, he said that likewise 1,555 beds reserved in government hospitals of Lahore and 1,347 beds were vacant so far. He added the department had arranged 3,327 beds in Isolation wards of all government hospitals in the province out of which 3,089 beds were vacant.

Nabeel Awan said that the health department had arranged 782 ventilators for COVID-19 patients in all hospitals of the provincial government of which 168 ventilators were under use while 614 were unoccupied. Around 278 ventilators were reserved in Lahore hospitals of which 60 were occupied while 218 ventilators were vacant, he added.

Rescue 1122 DG regularised at last

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LAHORE: After 17 years of public service finally the services of the Director General Punjab Emergency Service, Rescue 1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer have been regularised by the government of Punjab w.e.f March 17, 2021. The notification was issued upon the approval of Punjab Cabinet in accordance with the Punjab Emergency Service (PES) Amendment Act 2021. All Heads of Wings from Emergency Services Headquarters and Emergency Services Academy along with their staff congratulated DG Rescue 1122 on his regularisation.

Rethinking the Dupatta: Ali Xeeshan, GENERATION and Asma Nabeel present THE VEIL OF CARE / Parday Mein Parwah

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Lahore (Muhammad Yasir)  Pakistan has the highest rate of Breast Cancer in Asia: with over 90,000 cases of breast cancer reported every year, 1 in 9 Pakistani women has become a breast cancerpatient at some stage of life. Almost half of these women die. A major reason for this high number isnot just the lack of awareness but also the cultural taboo and stigma associated with the topicof women’s breasts in Pakistan – a mere discussion is considered immoral. Women hesitate to get their breasts checked or even check themselves on the grounds of modesty – this becomes a major barrier in the early prevention of the disease.

To help tackle thishurdle related to the illness, Ali Xeeshan, the country’s top fashion designer, worked with a device that is historically known in South Asia to safeguard a woman’s modesty by coveringherbreasts: the dupatta (veil). “The Veil Of Care”campaign aims to not only drive awareness of the disease but also provides an active reminder with instructions on how to check oneself, all while emphasizing that this action is not at the compromise of modesty, but well within its bounds.

Thisdupatta is designed with traditional embroidered motif patterns that incorporate a ribbon, and also features poetry from pink warriorAsmaNabeel along its borders. The Veil Of Care comes with a small booklet knotted into a corner, a traditional ritual in which women knot the corner of their dupattas to hide money in, that explains in English and Urdu the correct way to check your breasts, and is available in stores and online. 100% of profits from the sales of these dupattas will go to breast cancer patients of the country’s top hospital: ShaukatKhanum Memorial.

“In South Asia, the dupatta is a symbol of modesty and to protect this modesty, women often hesitate to check themselves. So, I designed a new kind of veil that not only serves the purpose of guarding women’s modesty but also gives them a reminder that they should take care of their health too” – Ali Xeeshan

Asma’s haunting poetry highlights the need for women to check their breasts timely. Her beautiful words were embroidered on the dupatta and launched in form of a video online.

To ensure that the campaign’s reach was national, the clothing brand GENERATIONlaunched a further design rendition ofthe dupatta to make it more accessible to all women in Pakistan.

“As a womenswear brand, women’s health issues have always been very close to our heart. Although we have been conducting annual Breast Cancer Awareness campaigns for many years, this year we decided to take our commitment a step ahead. We’ve joined hands with Ali Xeeshan to bring you a one-of-a-kindDupatta for which we’ll be donating all profits to the ShaukatKhanum Hospital.” – Khadija Rahman Creative Director GENERATION

The Veil of Care will go a long way to address the issue of modesty for the Pakistani woman, reminding them that modesty and health can go hand in hand.

Australian High Commission and Sehat Kahani inaugurated three Wellness Centres in universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

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HEC, United Nations Development Programme, Australian High Commission and Sehat Kahani inaugurated three Wellness Centres in universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) Sehat Kahani, with support from United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), HEC and the Australian High Commission in Pakistan (AHC), inaugurated three Wellness Centres in leading universities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa under its Mental Health Initiative to extend holistic mental health counselling and support services to the students.

These Wellness Centres, with a dynamic approach to mental health and wellness were constructed at Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University (SBBWU) in Peshawar, GIKI University in Topi and Hazara University in Mansehra. Under this initiative, the students are not only provided with a Wellness Centre consisting of an in-person counselling vicinity and a recreational centre, but the faculty is also trained by Mental Health Experts of Sehat Kahani on providing first aid mental health counselling in these rooms. Furthermore,  to ensure that mental health support is always available to the students, Sehat Kahani has provided all of the university students with free access to Sehat Kahani E Health Application where national and international Mental Health Experts can be consulted with complete privacy and confidentiality 24/7.The inauguration of the Wellness Centre was graced by Professor Dr. Razia Sultana, Vice Chancellor, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University; Mr. Sardar Ali Amin, Honorable Rector, GIKI University; Professor Dr. Jamil Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, Hazara University; Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, CEO and Cofounder, Sehat Kahani; Social Inclusion Officer, UNDP Islamabad Mr. Ezat and Senior Social Inclusion Officer UNDP Youth Empowerment Programme, Mr. Hamza.

During the inauguration ceremony at SBBWU, Professor Dr. Razia Sultana appreciated the initiative and its importance specifically amidst COVID-19 by saying, “I am very happy to see this unique initiative being executed in Shaheed Benazir Bhutto Women University, Peshawar. Initiatives like these are most crucial and important for our women students especially during these testing times of the pandemic when the university campus is not accessible for students along with the support and assistance. The Wellness Centre along with the 24/7 availability of online Mental Health Experts at Sehat Kahani will enable our students to seek support and help whenever and wherever they feel the need to do so.”

Honorable Rector, Sardar Amin during his closing remarks at the inauguration in GIK University added, “As an internationally renowned university which provides students with on-campus hostel facilities, GIK sees a lot of potential in this initiative of an in-house Wellness Centre blended with online counselling services to ensure that students can seek help with trust and anonymity for their mental health concerns. We look forward to making a positive impact on the academic and personal lives of students with the inauguration of this Wellness Centre in GIK Institute. The Institute expresses its gratitude to Sehat Kahani and UNDP and AHC for their assistance in this regard.”

Professor Dr. Jamil Ahmad participated in an in-app video consultation with Sehat Kahani’s Psychiatrist on the E-Health Application placed in each Wellness Centre. Thoroughly impressed with thew service, he added, “The idea of a recreational space along with a counselling room at Hazara University, Mansehra adds tremendous value to the well-established Psychology Department at our University. With this blended approach towards mental health counselling, we hope that our students from all the fields of study can come together and create a more impactful and much needed dialogue on the importance of mental health amongst each other and combat the stigmas attached to seeking professional help.”

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram, strongly believes in combating the stigmas attached to the help seeking behaviours for mental well-being. She said, “Sehat Kahani, through this partnership with UNDP, HEC and KP Universities, aims to reach out to each and every student in the province who requires mental health counselling and wellbeing support. We want to ensure that professional help is available and accessible through creative and sustainable platforms.”

A recorded video message from Laura Sheridan, Program Manager, UNDP was played during the inauguration where she applauded the zeal and interest with which this initiative was implemented by Sehat Kahani and accepted by the universities. She said, “On behalf of UNDP, I would like to thank Vice Chancellor and entire faculty of the university for actively participating in this initiative, to Sehat Kahani for the quick work during a difficult period to bring different standards of program together in a comprehensive platform for the students and the AHC for their support to this important work. We hope to scale up this model to other universities across KP as well as others at the national level.”

Covid surges in US embassy in Kabul

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NUT Desk- WASHINGTON: The US embassy in Kabul on Thursday ordered strict confinement of personnel over a surge in Covid cases at a mission already under pressure ahead of the US military withdrawal from Afghanistan. A notice sent by embassy management said that 114 people at the sprawling and heavily guarded mission have contracted Covid-19 and one has died, with several others medically evacuated.

The embassy said it was confining all staff to their quarters except to get food or to exercise or relax alone, with all team sports and most indoor meetings prohibited. “Failure to abide by the mission´s Covid policies will result in consequences up to and including removal from post on the next available flight,” the notice said.

It also encouraged vaccination. It said that 95 percent of the cases were among individuals who were not fully vaccinated.

Virus cases surge in Africa as third wave gains pace WHO

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NUT desk- BRAZZAVILLE: Coronavirus infections in Africa are surging as a third wave of the pandemic gathers pace on the continent, fuelled by the spread of more contagious variants, the World Health Organization said on Thursday. “Africa is in the midst of a full-blown third wave. The sobering trajectory of surging cases should rouse everyone into urgent action,” WHO”s regional director for Africa, Matshidiso Moeti, told an online news conference. According to WHO data, the number of new Covid-19 cases in Africa rose to over 116,500 in the week ending June 13, up from nearly 91,000 the previous week. In 22 African countries, cases rose by more than 20 percent in the week to June 13, with the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia and Uganda reporting their highest number of new weekly cases since the pandemic began. The WHO said that “a lack of adherence to transmission prevention measures has fuelled the new surge that coincides with colder seasonal weather in southern Africa and as more contagious variants spread. ” The continent has been hit less hard by the pandemic than most other regions, recording 135,885 deaths from 5,107,939 cases so far.

10 more Covid casualties in Punjab

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LAHORE: Punjab reported 10 Covid deaths during the last 24 hours, the lowest so far, taking the tally to 10,567 across the province.

Of them, eight deaths occurred in the provincial capital only, showing the lowest number of virus casualties recorded in a day in Lahore as well the province during the three waves of the epidemic.

According to the Covid update released here on Wednesday, the total number of the infections reached 344,379 after 183 more people tested positive for the virus during the last 24 hours in Punjab.only 69 cases were reported in Lahore.

Meanwhile, the Punjab Specialised Healthcare Department in pursuance of the National Command and Operation Centre (NCOC) has started supplying Pfizer vaccine at vaccination centres established in four big cities of the province, including Lahore.

While presiding over a meeting here on Wednesday, Health Secretary Nabeel Awan said that vaccinadon centres established in the Punjab Kidney and Liver Institute (PKLI), Lahore, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital, Lahore, Allied Hospital, Faisalabad, Holy Family Hospital, Rawalpindi, and Nishtar Hospital, Multan, have started vaccinadngcidzens with Pfizer vaccine.

Thehealthsecretary said that three types of patients who were registered with the Punjab Human Organ Transplant Authority, AIDS Control Programme and cancer projects were being vaccinated with Pfizer.

The second dose of the vaccine would be administered to them af ter a gap of 21 days, the health secretary said.

All Punjab Covid centers resume working

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AHORE: The Punjab government on Wednesday resumed coronavirus vaccination process at different points of the city.

The shortage of vaccine had forced the authorities to close two centres in Lahore.

According to a news release, vaccination was resumed at different camps established at the Expo Centre, Lahore Press Club and the PKLI. The government had a stock of 55,000 jabs of Sinopharm, 10,000 SinoVac, 5,000 AstraZeneca available at Expo Centre, press club, PKLI and UHS.

Pfizer vaccine is only available at Shaukat Khanum and PKLI, AstraZeneca will be available at LDA complex, Azadi Chowk, and will be administered to people going abroad.

Pakistan bears 4th highest burden of diabetic patients worldwide

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RAWALPINDI: Pakistan has the 4th highest burden of type 2 diabetes worldwide with more than 19 million cases per year with increasing number of affected patients due to increased consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages. General Secretary, Diabetic Association of Pakistan Professor Dr. Abdul Basit in a joint presser called the government to impose heavy federal excise duty (FED) on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs) to protect the increasing cohort of the population affected due to heavy consumption of sugar. In a joint press conference organized by Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH), Diabetic Association of Pakistan, Nation Development Organization, Scaling Up Nutrition Civil Society Alliance, Pakistan Medical Association, National Commission on the Rights of Children, Child Rights Movement, Pakistan Family Physicians, Senior Physician Forum, Pakistan Kidney Patients’ Association and other Public Health Advocates, the activists mentioned that as per World Health Organization (WHO) data around 2,200 individuals were dying per year in Pakistan due to serious non-communicable diseases caused by heavy intake of sugar.

The purpose of the press conference was to expose the interference of the beverage industry in fiscal policies rolled out by the government in Budget 2021-22. General Secretary, Diabetic Association of Pakistan Professor Dr. Abdul Basit said the high consumption of SSBs like sodas, juices and energy drinks by adults and children in Pakistan was one of the major causes of obesity and related non communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, liver and kidney diseases, some types of cancers, and even tooth decay. The public and civil society organizations have resented that the government has imposed no tax on the sugar sweetened beverages (SSBs) responsible for generating the major burden of non-communicable diseases.