PAKISTAN: Joint Efforts Proposed To Combat Cardiac Disease

KARACHI (The Dawn), March 31, 2006: The first SAARC Congress of Cardiology 2006 held here at the Department of Cardiology Liaquat National Hospital has proposed joint efforts by member countries to combat rising cardiovascular diseases in South Asia. The region is more prone to these diseases than other parts of the world, it was noted. The three-day event mainly aims at raising awareness among general physicians and sensitizing the masses on how to prevent heart-related diseases. Experts from all SAARC countries, including newly-inducted Afghanistan, are attending the congress, organized by the SAARC Cardiac Society and hosted by the Pakistan Cardiac Society. Cardiovascular disease incidence is rising at an alarming proportion in the region, emerging as the second common cause of death, next only to trauma/accidents. Heart disease did not just kill the elderly, but it was a major cause of death among the younger people as well. Speaking on the occasion, Abdul Hameed Rajput, Pakistan's Federal Director-General of Health, said that South Asia shared common socio economic problems and hence common health-related issues. He stressed the need to urgently control cardiovascular diseases by controlling the risk factors predisposing to increase prevalence of cardiovascular diseases. Use of tobacco was highly prevalent in South Asia and contributing to the rising death level in the region. According to the WHO, 16.7 million people die annually due to cardiovascular diseases in South Asia and by 2020 cardiovascular diseases will become the leading cause of both death and disability worldwide. Dr Ejaz Vohra, Chairman of SAARC Congress of Cardiology 2006, said joint efforts were needed to combat these diseases. In their separate messages, President Musharraf and Prime Minister Shaukat Aziz hoped the SAARC Congress of Cardiology 2006 would serve as a gateway to medical cooperation in South Asia.