Category: Health

Lahore – Ramazan is a time of reflection and kindness. Continuing on its tradition of supporting estimable people and institutions, which in turn help the less fortunate in Pakistan, Ufone is partnering with Rizq, a social entrepreneur project, this Ramazan.

Rizq was started in April 2015 by a group of friends who met at LUMS while studying for their economics degree after Huzaifa Ahmad shared his desire to channelize excess food to the underprivileged who cannot afford daily meals. Huzaifa’s friends and partners, Musa Amir and Qasim Javed, were instantly on board and the three entrepreneurs came together to build a bridge between surplus food at restaurants, weddings, and households (usually thrown away) and families living in slums of Lahore.

Ufone is supporting this worthy cause and will purchase media space on television channels and digital media throughout Ramazan, to be used to promote Rizq, free of cost. This will help secure more support for their endeavors by spreading the message of their cause across Pakistan. Ufone highlighted the partnership at an event held on Wednesday, 7^th June 2017 at the Pearl Continental Hotel in Lahore. Attendees included bloggers, and representatives from local print, electronic and digital media.

Rizq has two primary objectives, to decrease food wastage that is rampant in our society and to feed under nourished people particularly children.  As step one, the Rizq team identifies an area within Lahore, usually slums and villages, and maps the community. Next, food drives are advertised on Rizq’s official Facebook page and website encouraging people to contact them if they have any extra or leftover food items from parties or otherwise to donate. When created, Rizq’s Facebook page generated 5,000 likes overnight.

As step two, food is collected from partner restaurants, bakeries, caterers and households. The food usually comes in large containers, which are then taken to a store where it is checked for quality, and sorted into small packages for easy distribution. Lastly, food packages are distributed to mapped communities.

On average, Rizq serves 200 to 250 meals every day, and the team aims to bring this up to 2000 meals per day. During Ramazan, Rizq targets arranging 2-3 Iftar dastarkhwans on different locations each day to make food available for deserving people.

In order to expand their operations, Rizq needs Rs 1.5 million to buy a cold storage van and a cold storage facility to manage larger quantities of food. The team has been managing with fridges till now, which restricts them to sell/distribute food immediately.

This is the first time in Pakistan a food bank has been established to channelize excess food and the project has the potential to reduce poverty and transform people’s lives. Ensuring meal availability means the families can now utilize their money for other facilities like sending children to school, or buying medicines for ill family members.

Ufone hopes to create greater awareness of the remarkable work being done by Rizq and hopes this will kindle a spirit of sharing and generosity in others.

LAHORE – Tetra Pak, the world’s leading food processing and packaging solutions company, Thursday joined the rest of the world in celebrating the 17th annual World Milk Day. Tetra Pak promotes the consumption of safe packaged milk all over the world.

In 2001, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) selected June 1st as World Milk Day, which celebrates the important contributions of the dairy sector to sustainability, economic development, livelihoods and nutrition. With each passing year, the number of countries participating in World Milk Day has increased, to reflect ever growing interest in adopting healthier lifestyles.

Tetra Pak focuses on highlighting the importance of consuming safe packed milk, as opposed to lose or untreated milk. By nature, milk is a sensitive product. It is highly vulnerable to contamination if it is not handled properly during collection and transportation,

It is worth noting that, packed milk is tested before reception at the customer factories and only good quality milk is accepted. The milk is then exposed to the UHT process which eliminates bacteria and the six-layered carton keeps out sun, light, and air which makes UHT milk safe.

The Ultra High Treatment (UHT) process, exposes milk to extremely-high temperatures, at 135°C for 3-4 seconds, and is then immediately cooled. This process kills any bacteria whilst keeping the milk’s natural nutrients.

Afterwards the milk is safely packed in Tetra Pak’s six-layer package without the need to add any additives or preservatives.

Milk contains 18 of the 22 nutrients necessary for a daily intake.

It is rich in essential nutrients such as Vitamin A, D and B12, as well as minerals such as; potassium, calcium, phosphorus, zinc, magnesium and protein. Studies have shown that a low intake of milk or milk related products increases the risk of osteoporosis, resulting from calcium deficiency, obesity and tooth decay.

Loose milk is sold untreated and unpacked. It is usually collected in unsterilized containers without refrigeration and sold in a jar or plastic bag. It exposed to pollution, sun, and all types of bacteria, and in some cases, unhealthy additives are added it to prolong its life. Boiling the milk at home does not kill all the bacteria or remove the additives.

Lahore – Reckitt Benckiser (RB), one of the fastest growing health and hygiene companies, has inaugurated its new head office in Dolmen City’s recent addition, Corporate Office Block.
Belinda Lewis, British Deputy High Commissioner of Karachi, inaugurated the new office in presence of all RB employees.

She further stated “It’s great to see a British company like Reckitt Benckiser going from strength to strength in Pakistan.
It really speaks to the potential in this exciting emerging market.”
“The inauguration is a testament of our commitment to Pakistan – we completed 65 years of being in Pakistan this year – and the successful growth we have experienced” exclaimed Shahzeb Mahmood, CEO of RB Pakistan. “With our business expanding, growing team and the tremendous opportunities ahead, we decided it was time for us to take another step forward in our Pakistan story. Here is to having many more years of success ahead!”

Lahore –  The Diabetes Centre – TDC, a Not-for-profit organization established to take the bold initiative of fighting Diabetes in Pakistan with international standards of quality care on a welfare basis. Currently, a site clinic which is providing medical services where 60% under privileged diabetic patients are being cured free of cost. Right now, 1 in 10 Pakistanis is diabetic and over 2 million Pakistanis are suffering from this disease and this number is on rise. For this purpose, TDC is frequently organizing diabetes awareness and screening camps in all metropolis and rural areas for timely detection of diabetes.
While The Diabetes Centre Islamabad’s State-of-the-Art Comprehensive Healthcare facility in nearing to completion with the help of philanthropists, The Diabetes Centre has initiated its 2nd State of the art Diabetes Centre in Lahore with the aim to gradually cured and curb diabetes from Pakistan.
A Fund Raising dinner has been held in Lahore where the Chairman of The Diabetes Centre, Dr. Asjad Hameed briefed on the current situation of diabetes in Pakistan and measures to prevent diabetes. Dr. Asjad aiming in saving lives and protecting people from diabetes threats to have a more secure nation. At the end, he has requested the nation through media to play their important role in building and helping multidisciplinary medical facilities throughout Pakistan due to the severity of diabetes ailment.
Mr. Umer Kamal, Director Resource Mobilization and Mr. Shaiq Tanveer, Member Advisory Board also presented the status of Islamabad & Lahore Projects and thanked attendees & supporters for their cooperation to bring The Diabetes Centre at this level.
Chief Guest of the Lahore Project fund raising dinner, Mr. Muzaffar Hashmi, a renowned businessman, also addressed where he has assured his full cooperation and support to The Diabetes Centre to play a pivotal role at his part. Mr. Muzaffar Hashmi also appreciated The Diabetes Centre efforts made in this regard.

CANCER is currently one of the top killers worldwide, and the number of cancer cases is only expected to rise. Although there are a number of therapies available, most of them are toxic and cause serious side effects. New research examines the impact of the natural vitamin C on cancer cell growth.
In a recent study, vitamin C proves effective in killing cancer stem-like cells. Cancer is the second leading cause of death and disease worldwide, accounting for almost 9 million deaths in 2015, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The global number of new cases of cancer are expected to grow by around 70 percent in the next 20 years. In the United States, the National Cancer Institute (NCI) estimate that almost 40 percent of U.S. men and women will have developed cancer at one point during their lives. There are various treatment options available for cancer, but they are not always effective; most of them are toxic, and they tend to have a variety of side effects.
In some more aggressive cases, the cancer does not respond to treatment, and it is believed that cancer stem-like cells are the reason why the cancer comes back and metastasizes. New research, published in the journal Oncotarget, examines the effectiveness of three natural substances, three experimental drugs, and one clinical drug in stopping the growth of these cancer stem cells (CSCs.)
The study was conducted by researchers from the University of Salford in Manchester in the United Kingdom, and was led by Dr. Gloria Bonuccelli.
In total, the researchers measured the impact of seven substances: the clinical drug stiripentol, three experimental drugs (actinonin, FK866, and 2-DG), and three natural substances (caffeic acid phenyl ester (CAPE), silibinin, and ascorbic acid (vitamin C).) The research focused on the bioenergetic processes of CSCs, which enable the cells to live and multiply. The study aimed to disrupt the CSCs’ metabolism and ultimately prevent their growth.
Of all the substances tested, the team found that actinonin and FK866 were the most effective. However, the natural products were also found to prevent the formation of CSCs, and vitamin C was 10 times more effective than the experimental drug 2-DG. Additionally, the study revealed that ascorbic acid works by inhibiting glycolysis – the process by which glucose is broken down within the cell’s mitochondria and turned into energy for the cell’s proliferation.

Geneva (Web Desk) –  Faced with a shortage of polio vaccine, the World Health Organization urged countries Friday to resort to smaller, fractional doses to ward off outbreaks of the crippling disease.

“We do have a problem with the vaccine in the sense of not having enough of it,” Alejandro Cravioto, head of WHO´s Strategic Advisory Group of Experts (SAGE), told reporters in a telephone conference.

“But the recent evidence that we reviewed shows that even if we give a smaller dose of vaccine under the skin instead of inside the muscle, we can have the same impact of protection as before,” he said.

SAGE, which advises the UN health agency on immunisation policies, called for two smaller doses of the vaccine to be injected under the skin at six and 14 weeks after birth, instead of a single, larger intermuscular dose.

But there have been “problems” in the production, Duclos said, adding that the stocks of the vaccine should be fully replenished by the end of 2018.

Cases of polio have decreased by 99 percent since 1988, when polio was endemic in 125 countries and 350,000 cases were recorded worldwide.

The wild version of the virus now exists only in Afghanistan and Pakistan, where eight cases have been registered over the past six months.

There are still rare cases of vaccine-derived polio infections, caused by another type of polio vaccine, which contains small amounts of weakened but live polio virus.

Oral polio vaccine (OPV) replicates in the gut and can be passed to others through faecal-contaminated water — meaning it won´t hurt the child who has been vaccinated, but could infect their neighbours.

Long-term, WHO recommends that the OPV should be phased out worldwide and replaced completely by IPV.

The WHO experts on Friday hailed progress towards eliminating wild polio transmission.

But they warned that even after the disease has been eradicated it will be necessary to continue mass-immunisation with the IPV vaccine to avoid a resurgence of the virus.

 

Lahore (Muhammad Yasir) – Shahid Afridi Foundation and Thar Foundation collaborate to serve Thar. The Shahid Afridi Foundation (SAF) and Thar Foundation (TF) on otherday agreed to explore areas to work together for the region of Thar. The world-famous cricketer and social worker, Shahid Khan Afridi also announced to visit Thar soon to serve the poor communities.

Shahid Khan Afridi along with senior officials of SAF visited the head office of Sindh Engro Coal Mining Company (SECMC) and discussed options for future collaboration between two organizations. The TF is already working in District Tharparker through different interventions in Health, Education, drinking water and Livelihood sectors.

Mr. Shamsuddin Shaikh CEO, SECMC made a detailed briefing to the visiting delegation about TF’s interventions in areas of Health, Education and safe drinking water, cultural preservation and promotion. He said, TF look forward to a productive collaboration between the two foundations in the areas of health, education, and livelihood for the people of Thar – and that’s what is our Thar Dream, he added.

Appreciating TF’s work in Thar region, Shahid Afridi assured his full support for further collaboration. He said, he along with officials from his organization will soon visit Thar to witness the good work being done by TF and would like to serve the poor communities.

Islamabad – In an endeavor to expand its footprint, Shifa International Hospitals (Pvt.) Limited (SIHL) has decided to increase the outreach of its services to East Africa. This resolve was expressed here in a MoU signing ceremony between SIHL and Pan Africa Group (PAG) of Tanzania. The MoU was signed by Dr MH Qazi, CEO of SIHL and Mr. Bashir Haroon, CEO of PAG. The two groups will join hands to build a 250-bedded tertiary care hospital in the capital Dar es Salam.

Talking to media persons on this occasion, Dr Qazi said that African market offers huge potentials both in terms of business viability and the prospects of exporting high end healthcare services to fill in the massive gap in the market of most African countries. He maintained that this initiative shall not only optimize the interests of SIHL shareholders but also open up newer avenues of further growth and academic excellence. He also mentioned that SIHL was aggressively looking at further expansion in other mega cities of Pakistan.

Mr. Bashir Haroon expressed deep confidence in the professional expertise of the Shifa team and hoped that this joint venture shall result in the provision of state of the art healthcare services to Tanzanians as well as the neighboring countries.

SIHL is the largest tertiary care facility in northern Pakistan and the only listed company on national bursar, Pakistan Stock Exchange. With its principal hospital in the H-8 sector of capital city Islamabad and another hospital in G-10 sector Islamabad, Shifa Group runs a complete hospital in the textile capital of the nation, Faisalabad. The group also owns and runs a federally chartered university to strengthen healthcare, business and management education with the name of Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University.

The ceremony was attended by Dr. Habib Ur Rahman, Chairman SIHL, Mr. Muhammad Zahid, Executive Director Planning & Development SIHL, Mr. Muneer Hussain Shah, CFO, Dr. Omar Imtiaz Hassan, Executive Director External Services Division of SIHL, Mr. Mahmood A Mirza, Director Strategic Planning SIHL and Mr Nabeel A Malik, Head Business Development of SIHL.

LAHORE – Celebrated actors Aisha Khan and Faizanul Haque attended Physiogel’s Skin Heaven Bloggers’ Meet at the X2 Café on MM Alam Road on April 4, 2017. This event was a culmination of a previously held Physiogel’s 14-Day Blogger Challenge as well as an interactive way to get to know Physiogel’s consumers and learn about their opinions after trying and testing the brand’s recently launched ranges; namely Physiogel Daily Defence Facial Care Range and Physiogel Calming Relief Range.

The event was inaugurated with a welcome speech and brief brand introduction by Ayeza Sumsam Mohiuddin, GSK Consumer Healthcare Pakistan’s (GSKCH) Brand Manager for Skin Health Category. “It is very important for a brand like Physiogel to have passionate and effective story-tellers as its brand endorsers! We are always looking for fresh and innovative ways to engage our consumers and I am delighted to launch our latest collaboration between Physiogel and its key influencers”, said Ayeza.

Lahore – Ghulam Mursalin Marwat .Lucky Cement Limited has won the Health, Safety and Environment Award in the category of “The Responsibility for Health and Safety,” at the 2017 International Environment, Health & Safety Awards Gala.The awards distribution ceremony, held at a hotel in Karachi, was organised by The Professionals Network (TPN) and supported by the Fire Protection Agency of Pakistan (FPAP) to encourage health, safety and environment best practices amongst organisations in Pakistan. The HSE Awards are held annually and are open to companies in the corporate, private, non-profit and public sectors. Speaking on the occasion, Amin Ganny – Chief Operating Officer of Lucky Cement said, “Lucky Cement is committed to cultivating an environment. By fortifying its HSE goals with the pillars of perpetual progress, the company is in pursuit of a 100 percent safe & secure workplace for its employees & all stakeholders engaged in its business operations.”  He further added, “We follow a comprehensive environmental management and monitoring plan. The management strongly believes in following environmentally sustainable practices regarding the management of gaseous emissions, particulate matter, noise levels, effluents (sewage) and solid waste.”

Sustainable development forms a significant part in Lucky Cement’s business strategies and is one of the key factors that have led the company towards progress and growth. Earlier this year, Lucky Cement had won the Management Association of Pakistan’s top 32nd corporate excellence award for 2016, and had also received the 6th CSR Award for its Waste Management & Recycling policies at the 9th Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) Summit, organised by National Forum for Environment and Health.

The company also won another award for its Stakeholder & Employee Engagement efforts at the 6th Corporate Social Responsibility Summit & Awards ceremony, organized by The Professionals Network. Lucky Cement Limited (LCL) is the flagship company of the Yunus Brothers Group, which has a solid history of exceptional growth performance since its inception in 1993. LCL is one of the largest producers and leading exporters of quality cement in Pakistan, with a domestic production capacity of 7.75 million tonnes per annum.

The Company is listed on the Pakistan and London stock exchange. 

LCL’s manufacturing plants are strategically located in Northern and Southern regions of the country and is the only cement company to have its own loose cement export terminal at Karachi port with storage capacity of 24,000 tons.

Lucky Cement is an ISO 9001:2008 and 14001:2004 certified company and possesses many other international certifications including Bureau of Indian Standards, Sri Lankan Standard Institute, Standards Organization of Nigeria, Kenya Bureau of Standards and South African Bureau of Standards.