Demographic and health survey 2017-18 indicates progress

KARACHI: The regional survey results of the Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017-18, were released on Thursday at a provincial seminar organized by National Institute of Population Studies (NIPS).The seminar highlighted major improvements in child survival and maternal health care, while indicating progress has been slower in nutrition among children and women and access to family planning services. The Survey implemented by NIPS under the aegis of the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulations and Coordination, Islamabad, Pakistan, was conducted in close collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), under the DHS Program, that provides financial support and technical assistance in the implementation of population and health surveys in countries worldwide. The UK Department for International Development (DFID), and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) also partnered on the project. USAID Director for Sindh and Balochistan, Michael Hryshchyshyn, noted USAID is proud to have partnered for the survey, as good data leads to evidence-based decision making both by the government and development partners. He added that the Survey shouldn’t be considered just a report card on the last five years, instead it should be used to direct efforts for the next five years. This is the fourth such survey conducted in Pakistan since 1990-91. The 2017-18 PDHS provides estimates at the national level, for urban and rural areas, for four provinces and four regions. For the first time this Survey shows data disaggregated by disability status as well as by age, wealth, educational status and province. Overall, the Survey indicates families in Pakistan are getting healthier. More children are surviving early childhood as neonatal mortality; infant mortality and under-5 mortality have sharply declined. Additionally, the trend of getting antenatal check-ups by pregnant women has improved from 78% in 2012-13 to 86% in 20107-18. More births are delivered in a health facility, from 58% in 2012-13 to 72% in 2017-18. While the 2017-18 PDHS reports progress in many areas, some challenges still remain. The survey shows that many children in Pakistan suffer from poor nutrition. More work also needs to be done to improve availability and choice of family planning information and services. 

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Patients with kidney, cardiovascular diseases and diabetes can fast safely with prior consultation: Int'l experts

Karachi: National and international health specialists said that patients with mild to moderate kidney disease, those with cardiovascular issues as well as diabetics could keep fast in the month of Ramadan without any trouble if they get prior consultation and structured education from their physicians, get their medicines doses adjusted, monitor their health in the holy month and eat balanced diet with plenty of water to keep themselves hydrated after Iftaar till Sehri timings.“Studies conducted in Turkey, Saudia Arabia and Pakistan have proved that fasting has no detrimental effect on patients with Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD) who keep fast in the month of Ramadan”, said eminent physician Prof. Rayaz Malik, a UK-trained specialist who is now associated with Cornell University Qatar while speaking at the 5th International Diabetes and Ramadan Conference which concluded here at College of Physicians and Surgeons (CPSP) on Monday.The Conference was organized jointly by Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE), Karachi and Ramadan and Hajj Study Group in collaboration with Diabetes and Ramadan (DAR) International Alliance. Islamic scholars as well as health experts from United Kigdom, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Turkey, as well as several Far Eastern and African countries gathered at College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan (CPSP) and discussed the issues facing millions of Muslim diabetics, heart and kidney patients and pregnant women who would be fasting in the coming holy month of Ramadan and need to know advises on safe fasting.Uk-trained professor of medicine and diabetes Dr. Riaz Malik stunned the participants of the medical conference when he claimed that three limited studies had showed that there was no detrimental effect of fasting on patients with Chronic Kidney Diseases (CKD), even those who were having haemodialysis but called for conducting more studies on effects of fasting on patients with kidney issues so that millions of patients could be benefitted.Senior cardiologist, Dr. Kaleemullah Shaikh from Liaquat National Hospital spoke in detail about benefits of the fasting for patients with cardiovascular diseases, saying fasting results in reduction in cholesterol, lowering blood pressure and weight loss which ultimately lowers the risk of heart attack and other complications of the cardiovascular disease.“Studies have shown that fasting helps in better management of hypertension and if blood pressure is lowered by two degrees only, it reduces the risk of heart attack significantly. Fasting also reduces triglycerides and helps in weight loss, which is beneficial for the heart health”, he maintained. Eminent Islamic scholar and Mufti Najeeb Khan from Darul Uloom Karachi said doctors have the authority to permit and disallow fasting for people with health issues and added that people should listen to their doctors as they know better who could keep fast safely.He clarified that several health interventions including get ear and eye drops, getting blood sugar monitored by pricking, getting insulin and getting intravenous or intramuscular injections does not result in breaking the fast.“I want to make it clear that getting ear and eye drops, getting injections in the veins or muscles and tooth extraction does not result in breaking the fast. Checking blood sugar by pricking is also permitted in the fasting”, Mufti Najeeb said and added that in life-threatening situations, patients could break their fast and they would only have to offer ‘Qaza Roza’.“If a pregnant woman feels that continue fasting could harm her or her baby’s health or life, she can break fast. Similarly, diabetics whose sugar drops to alarming levels where doctors have permitted them to break their fast, they can do so”, he informed.Earlier, Vice Chancellor King Edward Medical University Lahore Prof. Khalid Masood Gondal said Diabetes and Ramdan conferences for the last several years are helping millions of Muslims in safe fasting as scholars, both Islamic and medical experts from all over the world present their research and advise people on how to remain healthy and fit while fasting in the month of Ramadan.Deploring that quacks were misleading the people of Pakistan, especially diabetics, he said awareness, prevention and early diagnosis of diabetes as well as several other diseases could help a large number of people in recovery and added Islamic scholars and doctors should approach as much people as possible and answer their queries.Director Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology (BIDE) Karachi Prof. Dr. Abdul Basit said Pakistan needs trained primary-care physicians who get Diploma and Certificate courses in different specialities including diabetes and claimed that in the presence of such trained and skilled physicians, quackery could abolish from Pakistan.Lauding the suggestion of certificate courses for the primary-care physicians, he offered his Institute and University’s support in preparation of curriculum, training of faculty, saying with the help of 115 clinics in Pakistan, they brought down amputation rate drastically in Pakistan but added tht Pakistan needs 3000 such clinics to help millions of diabetics in Pakistan.Several other health experts including honorary President International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Prof. Samad Shera, renowned gynaecologist Dr. Shabeen Naz Masood, Dr. Asma Deeb from United Arab Emirates, Dr. Uzma Khan from United Kingdom, Dr. Abdul Jabbar, Prof. Yakoob Ahmedani also spoke.

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Governor-led Karachi committee unconstitutional, says Wahab

The Sindh chief minister’s adviser on law said on Saturday that the constitution of the Karachi Transformation Committee (KTC) by the prime minister was an unconstitutional step.Barrister Murtaza Wahab told a news conference that according to the constitution, all the executive matters of a province are to be looked after by the provincial government alone.The adviser said that no matter how many committees the PM forms, all these committees should be headed by the CM of the province and not the governor.Wahab said that according to the constitution, the chief executive of a province is the chief minister and not the governor. He claimed that CM Syed Murad Ali Shah was not invited to any of the events attended by PM Imran Khan during his latest visit to the province.The adviser supposed that the CM was not invited to any of the events because he could have raised the issues of outstanding dues, supremacy of the constitution, the National Finance Commission Award, and gas and electricity rights.Wahab said that only the people associated with the Karachi Metropolitan Corporation had attended the event of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) at Bagh Ibne Qasim. He said that the Sindh government had not only announced the Karachi package but also implemented it in letter and spirit.The renovation of the Cantonment Railway Station and the roads around it, the revamping of Sharea Faisal, the construction of its underpasses and overhead bridges, and the revamping of University Road and Tariq Road are few of the examples of development works carried out under the package, he added.The adviser said that the CM had demanded 650mgd for Karachi in the meeting of the Council of Common Interests but to no avail, even when the federal minister for water and power admitted on the floor of the National Assembly that Sindh’s water share was being stolen.Wahab said that PM Khan should have mercy on the nation and stop taking U-turns every day, adding that it was high time that the premier stop deviating from the promises he had made during his campaign for the 2018 general elections.He said that a promise was made to build five million homes, but not even 50 had been built so far. Similarly, he added, a promise was made to provide jobs to millions, but after the passage of eight months, not a single person had been awarded a government job. The adviser said that the structure of the Green Line bus project in Karachi was also in the doldrums, adding that seven months had passed since the PM had promised that the scheme would the completed.He asked what the people of Pakistan have been given during the past eight months of the PTI’s rule except price hike of every single utility.He said that the premier had once again fooled the people of Sindh through glorified dreams, adding that the same was done by the provincial governor when he had made promises to the people of Tharparkar.Wahab said that the people of Tharparkar were also asking where PTI leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi had gone after contesting the elections from there, adding that the people of Pakistan had their only hope in the form of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.The adviser explained that the recent train march of PPP chief was meant to inform the people of Sindh about how the federal government was not giving them their due rights.It was not done to seek cheap publicity as being done by most of the federal cabinet ministers, he said.He also said that people in huge numbers came to welcome and listen to the PPP chairman wherever he stopped during his train march.Had the party chief been provided appropriate security, more people would have welcomed him in Punjab, added Wahab.

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Success of Sindh Rangers is due to their bravery, says Afridi

The 26th passing-out ceremony of Sindh Rangers recruits was held at the Rangers Training Centre & School in Karachi on Saturday.Minister of State for Interior Shehryar Khan Afridi was the chief guest and he was presented with the guard of honour by the smartly turned out contingents of soldiers.After the guard of honour, the chief guest reviewed the passing-out parade with Sindh Rangers Director General Maj Gen Muhammad Saeed, the commandant of the Rangers Training Centre & School and the parade commander.Later, the state minister gave away prizes to the passing-out recruits who demonstrated excellent performance during their training course.In his speech on the occasion, Afridi said that attending the passing-out parade of the Sindh Rangers was an honour and privilege for him.He said that the passing-out recruits were becoming a part of a prestigious institution of the state, adding that the day’s event had proved to be a milestone for the future of Pakistan.He also said that the restoration of law and order in the province was a success of the Sindh Rangers. Pakistan too has witnessed the effects of the fifth-generation warfare, he added.The minister said that the Sindh Rangers had achieved many precious and important successes, including the restoration of law and order in Karachi, adding that the successful holding of the Pakistan Super League matches in the metropolis had proved that the hustle and bustle of the city had been revived.The chief guest also paid homage to the martyrs of the Sindh Rangers. He said that the Sindh Rangers, being an important paramilitary force of the country, had secured successes on the basis of its daring officers and personnel.On the occasion, a splendid demonstration of rescue operation was presented by the Anti-Terrorist Wing of the Sindh Rangers. Among others, the ceremony was attended by senior officials of the law enforcement agencies, distinguished people from different walks of life, and the family members of the passing-out recruits.

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Ex-councillor’s son found slaughtered

A man was found dead inside a car parked at the Jama Mallia Road on Saturday within the limits of the Al-Falah police station.The body was taken to Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre where the victim’s family identified his body.According to SHO Ghulam Nabi Afridi, 32-year-old Asif Hussain, son of former councillor Sabir Hussain, went missing after he dropped his wife and joined his friends for a gathering.Police were looking for his friends to ascertain the cause behind the incident. He was a resident of Landhi and ran a hardware shop in the Bagh-e-Korangi area. Police said unidentified persons slaughtered him over unexplained reasons.

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Durrani’s physical remand extended till April 12

An accountability court on Saturday extended the physical remand of Sindh Assembly Speaker Agha Siraj Durrani, who has been arrested by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), for two more weeks.Durrani, a leader of the Pakistan Peoples Party, faces three inquires over allegedly making assets beyond recognisable income, making illegal appointments at government projects and institutions, and embezzlement of public funds.At the outset of the hearing, a NAB prosecutor moved an application seeking extension in the physical remand of Durrani. The prosecutor maintained that though the investigations had progressed, they had yet not been concluded and more questioning was required.He pointed out that in connection with inquiries against the Sindh Assembly speaker, the investigators had traced some individuals who had made suspicious payments and NAB had issued them notices. The prosecutor added that those persons, however, had obtained protective bail from the superior courts and were avoiding being interrogated.Arguing for the extension of Durrani’s remand, the prosecutor said that would probably be the last extension and if NAB could not establish the offence during the course of investigations, it may let the suspect go without any further prosecution.It was argued that the remand was necessary because some people had been found with bank accounts in their names containing exorbitant funds that did not match with their means of income. The prosecutor said those people needed to be cross-examined along with Durrani.The Sindh Assembly speaker’s lawyer opposed the remand plea, saying that NAB had not done homework before taking his client into custody, which was against the rules that the bureau needed to follow. He added that even the SupremeCourt had issued clear directives that no one should be arrested unless there is sufficient evidence.Durrani’s lawyer went on to say that it seemed NAB only wanted to malign his client on the basis of mere allegations. He added that his client’s residence was raided and his family harassed.The federal anti-graft watchdog should stay within its limits as due to its behaviour, people were committing suicides, the lawyer said. He alleged that NAB had also been releasing on social media fake videos of recoveries from his client’s house, to which the investigation officer said neither had they released any video nor they had any control over social media.The accountability courts’ administrative judge approved the NAB plea and extended Durrani’s remand till April 12. The judge also sought a progress report on the next hearing. This was the fifth extension in the physical remand of the incumbent Sindh Assembly speaker, who was arrested by NAB on February 20 from a hotel in Islamabad and later brought to Karachi.

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Civil Hospital ex-MS, others acquitted in NAB reference on medical purchases

An accountability court on Saturday acquitted six people charged with embezzlement of over Rs6 million public funds meant to purchase medicine for Civil Hospital, Karachi, which has been officially named Dr Ruth KM Pfau Civil Hospital.The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in 2010 had filed a reference against the hospital’s then medical superintendent Dr Mirza Raza Ali, pharmacy owner Nazeer Ahmed Arain, and medicine distributors, Mansoor Ahmed Khan, Ismail Junejo, Moiz Kashmiri and Adnan Siddiqui.According to the federal anti-graft watchdog, the suspects colluded with each other to unlawfully award a contract for purchase of medicines to a private firm without entering into bidding. NAB accused the suspects of creating fake bills and embezzling Rs6.59 million of public funds.The reference stated that the Sindh finance department allocated Rs65 million for medicines procurement in the fiscal year 2003-04. It read that Dr Ali misused his authority and purchased from the Star Distributors 50 Berirab P injections, the total cost of which was Rs263,500, without adhering to the Sindh Purchase Manual 1991 as the firm had not participated in the bidding process.The bureau claimed that the accused in collusion with each other prepared fake medicine supplies bills invoices along with indents and received money in their bank accounts, causing losses worth Rs6.59 million to the national exchequer which they distributed same among themselves.The defence counsels denied the allegations contained in the reference and claimed innocence on behalf of their clients. They maintained that the reference was based on mala fide intentions and the allegations were false and fabricated.The accountability court-IV judge, Farid Anwer Qazi, pronounced his verdict that was reserved earlier after recording evidence and final arguments from both sides. The judge relieved all the accused of the charges. The trial against their alleged absconding accomplice Shahzad Ali Khan was kept on dormant file until his arrest or surrender.

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