TWA
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Pakistan National Heart Association organized a big social media conference at Chinar Family Resort, Murree. Many influencers from all over Pakistan attended. The chief guest was current MNA and head of PML-N’s social media wing, Ms. Shumaila Rana . PML-N ticket holder Barrister Umar Khan also participated. Both of them guided the youth on how to lead the campaign. The final closing briefing was given by General Secretary Chaudhry Sanaullah Ghumman. Pakistan faces a rapidly growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) which inflict huge public health and economic costs on both the government and the public. A significant proportion of these diseases are related to diet-related risk factors like high intake of sodium/salt, sugar, trans fat, saturated fat and non-sugar sweeteners. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), NCDs like cardiovascular disease, stroke, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and liver cirrhosis are now responsible for over 60% of mortality and 6 of the top 10 causes of death in Pakistan. Together, these conditions cause hundreds of thousands of deaths every year and deprive the country of hundreds of millions of dollars due to productivity losses from prolonged sickness and premature mortality.
The social media influencers were engaged in a robust discussion on the role they can play in raising awareness about the health hazards of ultra-processed foods and sugary drinks. They were capacitated to influence policymakers to prioritize mandatory FOPL and warning signs regulations, as well as advocating for increase taxes on sugary drinks. The event was not only an informative session but also served as a platform for fostering a collaborative effort among social media influencers and PANAH to collectively address the pressing public health challenges. By providing influencers with the tools to enhance positive change, the training session played a pivotal role in advancing the collective mission of public health in Pakistan.
General Secretary PANAH, Mr. Sanaullah Ghumman hosted the event. Certificates were disbursed among the participants of the event.
