“World Health Day is marked every year on the 7th of April to highlight the significance of a healthy life style and importance of awareness regarding it. This year’s theme of World Health Day is ‘Universal health coverage: everyone, everywhere’. The theme is quite relevant especially to developing countries like Pakistan, as to a certain extent; health stands last in the list of priorities of a common person.”These views were expressed by Dr. Faisal Sultan, Chief Executive Officer, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC) while talking to media persons at the hospital on the occasion of World Health Day.
He said that, “Health is everyone’s business and in their interest. No real changes occur unless society at large is involved. The improvement in many health parameters have happened in the West due to improvements in sectors other than health like sanitation, health education and awareness. Unfortunately we are lagging far behind in this field and a classic proof of this is typhoid illness which usually spreads due to bad sanitation. It travels through feces into the sewerage system and onwards into drinking water supply, reaches the human body. Once typhoid germs were drug sensitive in our country, but with the passage of time, it has become a drug resistant bacteria and we are left with only one or two options of drugs to deal with typhoid, which is an alarming situation. Actually, instead of drugs, improved sanitation is the real solution to deal with such diseases, which unfortunately is a neglected issue in Pakistan.
However, there is much more to just improving health sector. It also concerns general education, health education, food supply safety, good municipal administration, to name just a few, and on a large scale, it is called ‘one health concept’ that covers not only human health but environment and animal health as well.”
He further added that, “Awareness about healthy lifestyle and its prerequisites is very important especially in the era of social media and incorrect or fake news. We see people believing lots of wrong information regarding vaccinations and other health issues. The ability to research out correct and scientifically valid information is ever more important today.”
Dr. Faisal said that, “On this world health day we must analyze and figure out what are the major health hazards in our country. We are still to combat malnutrition, maternal and child mortality, diarrheal diseases, infections of a number of types including tuberculosis, hepatitis, mental health and other issues. As a developing country, while we still face infections and their impact, we also face non communicable diseases like diabetes and kidney diseases.”
Describing the role played by SKMCH&RC in improving health awareness and in provision of health care facilities, Dr. Faisal Sultan said that, “Other than providing cutting edge diagnostic and therapeutic services to thousands of cancer patients, Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre has also played a vital role in imparting and improving awareness level of common public through extensive campaigns on various health issues especially on smoking and breast cancer. The presence of a high profile patron like Imran Khan has helped propel the message about the curability of many cancers and the need for prevention and early detection. In addition to the treatment of patients and awareness drives, one most significant and proud contribution to the health sector is training of health professionals, para-medical staff, nurses, health care professionals and doctors.”
While answering some questions about the government’s role in the health sector, Dr. Faisal was of the view that, “Through its efforts, the government can change the entire scenario of the prevailing situation. This sector needs allocation of better resources and management of existing resources in an improved way. Capable management in the health sectors whether in preventive or curative health is crucial. At present, only 30% of health is provided by the government, which is a very low ratio. In certain areas and diseases, the role of the government is pivotal.”