The Federal Minister of Health, Mustafa Kamal, warned that the Pakistan health system cannot support the growing burden of the disease unless accent moves from treatment to prevention.
Speaking during a pilot project ceremony on children’s nutrition and maternal health, he underlined the urgent need for drinking water, effective wastewater treatment and population control to reduce pressure on the health sector.
“Our current system is waiting for patients to fall sick before responding. It is essentially a disease system, while the actual function of a healthy system should be prevention before the disease,” said Kamal. “Prevention is better than healing, we have to protect people from falling into the first place.”
He cited expert estimates that 68% of diseases in Pakistan come from contaminated water. “If clean water is ensured, 68% of diseases can be eliminated,” he noted. “There is no effective wastewater treatment system in the country. We must do wastewater treatment in our policies. ”
Read: Epidemics of the disease increase in the monsoon
The Minister underlined the Pakistan population growth rate of 3.6%among the highest in the region, saying that it had exerted immense pressure on resources and health care. “Forty-three percent of children suffer from stunning, Pakistan ranks first in the region for patients with hepatitis C, and polio still exists in the country,” he said.
Stressing the increase in patient charges in hospitals, Kamal said: “In the existing system, the day will never come when the state can treat all patients.” He called on all health authorities to re -examine their policies and introduce measures to create a healthier environment.
“The Ministry of Health pays particular attention to preventing people from becoming sick and strives to transform the disease system into disease care into a real health system,” he added. “For a healthy Pakistan, lasting measures are essential. Policies must be developed which promote a healthy environment and allow protection before diseases. ”
Generalized monsoon rains and floods through Punjab this year have triggered an increase in water and diseases transmitted by vectors, health authorities warning an increasing crisis.
Authorities have urged citizens to drain stagnant water, store drinking water safely and request medical help immediately in the event of fever, vomiting or unusual symptoms.
