FAISALABAD: Speakers have called for steps to combat environmental hazards and adopt
healthy lifestyle to reduce diseases and mortality rate as 3.8 million people die of diabetes each
year only; whereas cancer kills 1.37 million people.
They were addressing at one-day symposium titled andquot;one healthandquot; arranged by US-Pakistan Center
for Advanced Studies in Agriculture and Food Security, University of Agriculture Faisalabad at
New Senate Hall.
The session was chaired by the Pakistan Council for Science and Technology Chairman Dr
Anwar-ul- Hassan Gilani, whereas Philmona from Kenyan Embassy Islamabad; University of
Agriculture Faisalabad Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Punjab Medical
College Principal Alfareed Zafar and other notables also spoke on the occasion.
Dr Anwar-ul- Hassan Gilani said that changing lifestyle, junk food and unphysical activities were
causing obesity that can be called the root cause of the many diseases including diabetes and
cardiovascular diseases. Diabetes Mellitus is the sixth leading cause of death, killing 3.8 million
people each year. He showed his concern that two thirds of them are living in the developing
countries.
Talking about the challenges, he said that plenty of food/high caloric intake, dependence on
impure and processed foods, sedentary lifestyle, environmental Factors/pollutants and less
distance and less time for relaxation and physical activities were posing the serious threat for the
people. He stressed upon the natural health which is the best maintained by lifestyle change
including physical exercise and mental relaxation; nutritional measures/dietary habits and
functional and organic foods.
He said that eight million people are hospitalised each year for the ailments caused by the
ingestion and side effects of prescription drugs. Taking about the herbs, he said that nothing is
better than ginger in stomach disorders. He also said usage of garlic saves oneself from
cardiovascular diseases and ginkgo from old age dementia;
Professor Dr Iqrar Ahmad Khan said that the county was producing the surplus food for the
people. But on the other hand, 40 percent of our population was malnourished. He said that lack
of awareness, affordability issue, unhealthy lifestyle and other factors were provoking
malnutrition in the country.
He said that in the ninetieth century, the region of subcontinent was facing the famine and
extreme hunger situation. On the recommendations of Famine Commission in the late of the
nineteenth century, the Punjab Agricultural Education and Research Institute (now UAF) was
established and now we have abundant food.
Dr Alfareed Zafar said that the country had emerged as the polio free country. He stressed upon
the need to present oneself for accountability. He said that dengue, zika and congo viruses
diseases were breaking out due to lack of cleanness which saves from the many diseases.
US expert Dr Nancy J Allen said such session would help address the issue. She also said that
animals are also the part of this world which are being ignored. Dean Faculty of Veterinary
Sciences Professor Dr Zafar Iqbal said that such session was aimed at raising the awareness. He
said that people must be educated about the healthy lifestyle, and food. Dr Qurban Ali, Dr
Muhammad Ashghar from PMC, Dr Kashif Saleem and Dr Imran Arshad from UAF, Dr Rubina
Tabassum from Pinum also spoke on the occasion.