In a remarkable initiative to tackle the growing concern of heart diseases among the youth of Pakistan, the National Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (NICVD), in collaboration with the Arts Council of Karachi, recently organized a theatre performance titled ‘Achhe Bache’. The play, part of the Discovering Hypertension campaign, aimed to educate schoolchildren on the importance of a healthy lifestyle and preventing heart diseases from a young age.
Alarming Statistics Highlight Rising Heart Issues
The event comes in light of troubling statistics from the NICVD, where 40 to 45 people are treated daily for heart attacks, with an alarming 15% of patients aged between 25 and 40 years. Health experts expressed concern over the increasing number of heart attacks among younger Pakistani men, attributing the rise to obesity, lack of exercise, and the consumption of unhealthy diets.
Raising Awareness Among Children
The theatre performance, attended by hundreds of children from various schools across Karachi, sought to instill an understanding of healthy living in the youth. The message was simple yet profound: adopting healthy habits at a young age can significantly reduce the risk of heart diseases later in life.
Dr. Tahir Sagheer, Executive Director of NICVD, spoke at the event, stressing the importance of reversing current trends. “There is an alarming increase in heart diseases among the youth in Pakistan, and the primary reasons are unhealthy lifestyles and a lack of exercise,” he remarked. He pointed out the absence of physical activity among today’s youth, noting that many schools no longer have playgrounds, and modern conveniences like cars have reduced physical labor.
Heart Disease and Diabetes: A Dual Threat
Dr. Tahir also highlighted a disturbing connection between diabetes and heart diseases in Pakistan. “Pakistan has become the country with the highest number of young diabetic patients, where diabetes is being diagnosed at the age of 25, which is closely linked to heart diseases.” This link between diabetes and heart issues presents a critical health crisis, he said, urging swift action to address it.
The Importance of Early Education
Dr. Khawar Kazmi, Head of Preventive Cardiology at NICVD, emphasized the importance of early education to combat the rise of heart diseases. “We must encourage children to adopt healthy habits from an early age to avoid heart diseases. Awareness at the school and community levels is essential to emphasize the significance of regular exercise and a balanced diet.”
Corporate Responsibility for a Healthier Future
Mr. Haroon Qasim, Managing Director of Pharmivo, also spoke about the role of corporate social responsibility (CSR) in fostering a healthier society. He stated, “Pharmivo’s CSR efforts aim to create a healthy society, and the best way to achieve this is to teach children the principles of healthy living so that they can lead healthy and prosperous lives in the future.”
Combatting Non-Communicable Diseases Amid Economic Struggles
Syed Jamshed Ahmed, Head of Discovering Hypertension, underscored the importance of the campaign in light of Pakistan’s current economic conditions. “Our economy does not allow us to bear the pressure of non-communicable diseases like heart diseases. Therefore, we initiated this campaign to raise awareness among children about the dangers of smoking, gutka, vaping, and unhealthy food from an early age.”
The Role of Schools in Promoting Health
Syed Tariq Shah, Chairman of the All Private Schools Association, highlighted the pivotal role that schools can play in promoting healthy habits among children. He pointed out that schools are finding innovative ways to address the lack of playgrounds by building sports areas on rooftops. However, he also called on the government to hand over barren fields to schools so they can be used for physical activities.
