By Abid Chaudhry
TWA
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The 32nd annual walk organized by the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) in Murree emphasized the urgent need to adopt healthier lifestyles to combat the rising incidence of cardiovascular and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Pakistan. With alarming statistics indicating that more than forty percent of Pakistani adults are obese and a person dies from heart disease every ninety seconds in the country, the event shed light on the critical role of diet, exercise, and lifestyle choices in disease prevention.
Sana Ullah Ghamman, Secretary General of PANAH, hosted the event, bringing together health experts, senior journalists, health workers, teachers, students, and community members. Ghamman reaffirmed PANAH’s dedication over the past four decades to saving the nation from heart and related diseases. He emphasized the organization’s collaboration with policymakers, the government, civil society, media, scholars, youth, and teachers to address health issues.
Dr. Abdul Qayyum Awan, Executive Senior Vice President of PANAH, stressed the detrimental effects of a diet high in fried foods, salt, and sugar. He pointed out that Pakistan leads globally in the rapid spread of diabetes due to excessive sugar consumption and called for a shift towards healthier eating habits, particularly among mothers, to safeguard children’s health.
Col. (R) Dr. Shakeel Ahmad Mirza underscored the government’s responsibility to prioritize public health. He praised PANAH’s initiatives and reiterated that a healthy lifestyle, including regular walking, exercise, consumption of fruits and vegetables, and avoiding smoking, is crucial in preventing NCDs.
Former Commissioner of the Federal Board of Revenue, Abdul Hafeez, highlighted PANAH’s long-standing efforts to protect the nation from diabetes, heart disease, and other NCDs through educational walks, seminars, and conferences. He suggested that the government could consider taxing unhealthy foods to both reduce NCD risks and generate additional revenue.
Sqn. Ldr. (R) Ghulam Abbas emphasized the importance of steering children and youth towards physical activities and away from excessive screen time. He advocated for the prioritization of healthy food choices as a fundamental right for children to prevent various diseases.
The event’s speakers collectively called for a national movement towards healthier lifestyles to curb the rising tide of cardiovascular and other NCDs. They stressed that regular physical activity, a balanced diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and avoiding harmful habits like smoking are essential steps in this direction.
