'Khyber Pakhtunkhwa most vulnerable to Swine flu'

Health experts at a media orientation workshop pointed out that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa is more prevalent regarding Swine-flu, as most of the cases of influenza H1 and N1 were reported in the area, and stressed upon the media to play due role for creation of awareness about the growing epidemic.
They expressed these views during a media orientation workshop regarding influenza H1 and N1 organised by Expanded Polio Immunisation (EPI) programme, Khyber Paktuhtunkwa and Minister of Health, under National Programme for Prevention and Control of Avian & Pandemic Influenza, and international partners Unicef and WHO, here at a local hotel on Thursday. Khyber Pakhtunkwa Minister for Population Welfare, Mohammad Saleem Khan was the chief guest on the occasion.
The keynote speakers were included Dr Salma Kausar Ali, Programme Manager, National Programme for prevention and control of Avian & Pandemic Influenza, Dr Janbaz Afridi, Deputy Director EPI Programme, Khyber Pakhunkhwa, Dr Roohullah, Director Health services, Khyber Pakhtunkwa, Dr Mohammad Najeeb Durrani, a representative WHO, Islamabad, Saiful Islam Saifi, President Peshawar Press Club, and senior journalist Zulfiqar Ahmad Chitrali.
Dr Salma Kausar, in her detailed presentation said that Pakistan is among the most prevalent country regarding influenza virus, saying that low literary rate and lack of awareness is the major factor behind spreading of viral diseases in the country. She said media and religious scholars are the main stakeholders to prevent all kind of fatal diseases, including Swine flu from the country. Ms Salma indicated that about 1/4 of the population is infected with the spreading of H1 and N1 influenza virus in the country.
Explaining the symptoms and prevention measures, she said that there are three category of influenza virus A, B and C, saying that the A and B categories virus are infected through animals to humans, while the C form influenza will cause epidemic or pandemics. She said the swine-flu virus was outbreak in late 2007 in district Charsadda, Khyber Paktunkhwa, adding that above age of 50 people are most vulnerable. "We are focusing high risk group to prevent virus in early stages, she informed, saying that the government had declared so far level-6 emergency in 2009.
She stressed the need of precautionary and preventive measures for containment of influenza H1 an N 1 virus in the country. He urged upon the media to lay special focus viral diseases to aware about its impacts and dire health consequences. "We are looking forward to develop a media and health experts' liaison and group to launch drive against prevalent diseases in the country." She said that the step is part of our efforts to create awareness among masses about viral diseases through media sensitisation programme.
Mohammad Saleem Khan in his address highlighted the importance of media to create awareness all kind of health issues faced the country. He said that the task will not be accomplished without taking media on-board. He stressed for immunising high-risk group on priority basis.
He urged the federal government and co-partners, including Unicef and WHO to embark assistance in proper time to prevent all major diseases in the country, especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Owing to lack of awareness and illiteracy, he said the ratio of viral diseases have been grown in the province. He suggested that all stakeholders should take on board to get all set targets and objectives as earliest, saying that it could be difficult for provincial health department to alone carry it. He also asked the media to extend full co-operation and support for early elimination of fatal diseases from the society.
Most of the deadly diseases are outbreak due to huge influx of Afghan refugees in the province, he observed. He added that the geographically proximity of the region is another factor behind the growing ratio of diseases in the province. The region, he said, is playing as frontline role, because of which faced number of challenges, like militancy and insecurity, education and health sector. On the other hand, he said natural disasters, in the form floods, had aggravated the situation. He called for special focus on the worst affected area in war against terrorism.
Dr Rohullah Jan, Director Health Services, Khyber Pakhtunkwa, and Dr Jan Baz Afridi, Deputy Director EPI Program also spoke on the occasion. They called upon the media to carry a special campaign for creation of awareness among the masses regarding different viral diseases in the country. "We want to reduce growing morality rate in wake of viral and epidemic diseases from the province", they maintained. It's a national obligation and collective responsibility to elimination all deadly diseases through join efforts and initiatives, they concluded. Representatives of WHO, Unicef, provincial health department, as well as large number of journalists attended the workshop.