Religious seminaries: over 10 percent students, teachers suffering from Hepatitis B and C

More than 10 percent students and teachers of religious seminaries are suffering from Hepatitis B and C due to unhealthy environment, unclean and arsenic water, lack of sanitation and use of substandard lavatories in Southern Punjab. However, diabetic is very rare in these seminaries because they do exercise, play games between the Asr and Maghrib prayers.
Health authorities said complaints of asthma, gastro-enteritis and tuberculosis were common in the seminaries of southern Punjab. They were not agreed with the report compiled by Diabetic Association of Pakistan.
It may be recalled that the study was conducted with samples of 1,000 people under the supervision of Secretary General Diabetic Association of Pakistan Professor Abdul Samad Shera and Director Baqai Institute of Diabetology Professor Abdul Basit.
Camps were set up at four religious seminaries where Baqai hospital teams found that 66 percent of the people either had diabetes or were very close to it. The reason for the disease being so common could be that people in seminaries have very little physical activity, the experts said.
The study was carried out in collaboration with Oslo University and aims to create awareness about diabetes and preventive measures that could be used, such as a more active lifestyle. "Public awareness could save 50 percent of people from the disease," said Programme Co-ordinator Dr Zaffar Iqbal Hyderi. "An imbalanced diet and sedentary lifestyle are its main causes. The disease has serious consequences and even affects the eyesight and kidneys."
The Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology is organising a food festival on June 23 to help create awareness about diabetes and its related diseases. Sugar and cholesterol tests would be offered free of charge and experienced medical experts would be available for advice. The festival will be held from 10:00 am to 3:00 pm. Entry costs Rs 20, and children under 12 have free admission.