MULTAN
\nDiabetes has become a growing national crisis in the country,with an estimated 33 million adults currently living with the disease,according to health and civil society experts.
\nSpeaking at a special press conference held in connection with World Health Day,representatives of the Civil Society Forum Multan highlighted alarming statistics and called for urgent government action.
\nThe forum\u2019s Chief Coordinator Shahid Mehmood Ansari,President Dr. Irfan Ahmed Pracha,Chief Organizer Aurangzeb Khan Baloch and Organizer Khalid Chattha emphasized that Pakistan now has a diabetes prevalence rate of 26.7%, placing it third globally after China and India in terms of adult diabetes cases.
\n\u201cBetween 2000 and 2021,the number of diabetic adults in Pakistan has surged from 5.2 million to 33 million,\u201d said Dr. Pracha.\u201cWhat\u2019s even more concerning is that nearly 8 to 9 million people remain undiagnosed and untreated.\u201d
\nExperts estimated the economic burden of diabetes in Pakistan at $25 billion, which constitutes approximately 1.6% of the national GDP.
\nA significant portion of individual incomes is being consumed by the costs of managing this chronic condition.
\nTo address this mounting public health issue,the forum proposed several recommendations.
\nOne key demand was to relocate the District Jail from Multan\u2019s urban center and establish a dedicated Diabetes Hospital at the site.
\nThey also urged the government to ensure uninterrupted,free provision of insulin at public hospitals.
\n\u201cObesity and excessive sugar consumption are primary contributors to the diabetes epidemic,\u201dthe speakers noted,adding that the prevalence is higher in rural areas than in urban ones.
\nThe forum also criticized the unchecked rise of unqualified medical practitioners and called for strict regulation of medical stores, ensuring the presence of certified personnel at all times.
\nStrengthening of primary healthcare services and the development of an effective referral system for consultants were also highlighted as essential reforms.
\nIn terms of prevention,Dr. Irfan Pracha advised eliminating sugar and refined carbohydrates from diets,eating smaller portions,staying physically active through daily walks,drinking plenty of clean water and increasing fiber intake.\u201cIncluding a good source of fiber in every meal can help stabilize blood sugar and insulin levels, ultimately reducing diabetes risk,\u201d he added.
\nThe forum concluded with a strong appeal to authorities to treat diabetes as a national health emergency and take comprehensive,sustained measures to combat its rise.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
MULTAN Diabetes has become a growing national crisis in the country,with an estimated 33 million adults currently living with the disease,according to health and civil society experts. Speaking at a special press conference held in connection with World Health Day,representatives of the Civil Society Forum Multan highlighted alarming statistics and called for urgent government action. […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":471148,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[4],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-471124","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-national"},"yoast_head":"\n