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Children in Pakistan suffer many more infections than children in
developed countries due to lack of vaccination and poor nutrition
and hygiene practices, as well as contaminated water and food.
This was stated by Dr Anita Zaidi, Associate Professor and Consultant
Paediatrician at Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH), while giving
a presentation on 'How to Prevent Infection in Young Children'. Dr
Zaidi was speaking at 'Signs, Symptoms and Care', a health awareness
programme organised by the University Hospital in Hyderabad on January
28, 2005.
According to Dr Zaidi, lack of vaccination plays a key role in the
high levels of infection amongst children in Pakistan. "Vaccines against
at least 13 common childhood diseases are available in our country
but not even 50 per cent of our children are immunised," she said.
Dr Zaidi stressed that mother's milk is essential for the baby. She
also noted that children of smokers suffer three times as many respiratory
infections as children whose parents do not smoke. "Symptoms of asthma
are also increased in children who are exposed to tobacco smoke," she added.
Dr Abdul Gaffar Billoo, Professor and Consultant Paediatrician at
Aga Khan University Hospital, spoke on 'Asthma in Young Children',
and provided information on prevention, diagnosis and treatment. Presentations
by the speakers were followed by a question-and-answer session.
As part of its outreach programme and societal commitment of creating
awareness of early diagnosis and timely treatment, AKUH has organised
over 160 'Signs, Symptoms and Care' programmes in Karachi, Hyderabad
and the UAE, benefiting more than 35,000 people.
Similarly, the University Hospital's Patient Welfare Programme reaches
out to patients by providing assistance to those who are unable to
afford the medical cost of treatment. Since the beginning of this
programme in 1986, over Rs 1.05 billion has been disbursed to more
than 200,000 needy patients.
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