Indus Vitals

Marking World Heart Day, PMA calls for prevention, early screening, and wider awareness to curb disease burden IV Report KARACHI: As Pakistan joined the world in marking World Heart Day on September 29, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) warned that heart disease has reached crisis levels in the country, urging urgent policy action, early screening, and sustained public education to save lives. In a statement, PMA Secretary General D   r Abdul Ghafoor Shoro noted that nearly 80 percent of premature deaths caused by cardiac disease could be prevented. “The burden can only be reduced through collective effort, beginning with individual responsibility and supported by government-led interventions,” he said. He emphasised that the issue should be treated as a national health emergency, requiring substantial investment in prevention and early care. D   r Abdul Ghafoor Shoro The association called for stronger primary healthcare facilities equipped with diagnostic tools...

Province vaccinates 2.36m in first round; Karachi trails far behind Sindh average despite gains in schools By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Having administered the Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine to around 2.36 million of its target adolescent girls (9–14 years) in 12 allocated days, Sindh has decided to extend the campaign for another three days to reach many of the 1.6 million girls who remained unvaccinated when the drive officially ended on September 27. Sindh concluded the campaign with a 59% coverage rate, placing it second after Punjab at 61%. Nationally, about 60% of the targeted girls were vaccinated, while coverage stood lower in Azad Kashmir (36%) and the Islamabad Capital Territory (32%). Dr Raj Kumar, Project Director of the Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), which is executing the HPV campaign in Sindh, told this scribe that after a review meeting on September 28, it was decided to extend vaccination activities from September 29 for three more days. “Teamwork, s...

Sindh’s HPV drive at 48%, but Karachi lag and refusals hinder overall gains By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Karachi — often described as the city of enlightened people — has consistently struggled at the bottom of HPV vaccination coverage lists. However, it recorded a slight improvement, with rates rising by three percentage points on the 10th day of the ongoing national campaign to vaccinate adolescent girls against cervical cancer, it emerged on September 26. According to data released by the Sindh Directorate of Immunisation, combined coverage across Karachi’s districts reached 36% on September 25 , compared to 33% on September 23 . While Sukkur and Shaheed Benazirabad also showed improvement on September 24, they failed, unlike Karachi, to sustain the upward momentum the following day. A comparative analysis showed Sindh maintaining an edge over Punjab, Kashmir, and Islamabad, reporting 58% daily coverage on September 24–25 and 57% on September 23 , the eighth day of the campaig...

EU-funded initiative brings partners together to strengthen accountability and promote responsible business practices in key sectors IV Report KARACHI: Two local non-governmental organisations on September 25 launched a joint initiative to promote human rights safeguards, especially for youth and women, in Pakistan’s textile and leather sectors. The Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) and the Centre for Child Rights and Business (The Centre) will run the Child Rights Action Hub in Karachi with funding from the European Union, according to a press release. The forum is intended to support companies in strengthening human rights due diligence and improving their impact on children and young workers across supply chains. The hub is designed to help businesses address challenges in global sourcing by promoting transparency, compliance and resilience. It will provide practical solutions and platforms for collective action, enabling companies to identify ri...

Only 38% covered as time runs out to shield girls from cervical cancer By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Frustration is running high among campaigners of Sindh’s first-ever Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination drive as, after eight days of field efforts, they have managed to reach only 38 per cent of the total 4.07 million eligible girls across the province. The momentum has slowed compared to the initial days of the campaign, it emerged on September 24. With only three days left before the officially declared September 27 deadline, authorities fear the campaign may fall far short of its 90 per cent target. The initiative, launched on September 15, is aimed at protecting adolescent girls from cervical cancer, one of the leading causes of cancer-related deaths among women in Pakistan and worldwide. According to the Sindh Directorate of Immunisation’s daily situation report, compiled as of September 23, about 57 per cent of the interim target of 2.62 million girls set for the first eight...

Authorities push for community mobilisation and myth-busting as Karachi lags far behind provincial targets By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: Sindh, while leading all provinces and territories in vaccination rates during the first six days of the first-ever Human Papillomavirus (HPV) campaign launched on September 15, is struggling to achieve meaningful penetration in schools. Nearly half (48.5%) of the targeted 9–14-year-old girls are enrolled in educational institutions—879,000 in public schools, 834,000 in private schools, and 137,000 in Sindh Education Foundation schools—yet coverage within these settings remains alarmingly low. According to the Sindh Directorate of Immunisation’s (SDI) latest district-wise report, updated on September 20, the campaign aims to vaccinate 4.1 million girls. A source privy to the data said, “unexpected refusals at schools and community resistance remain major barriers.” The SDI circular has urged intensified mobilisation, school sensitisation, and tighte...

Industry leaders welcome reforms but call for tax relief and timely certification to sustain growth IV Report KARACHI: Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal has called for greater domestic production of medical devices to strengthen patient care and reduce dependence on imports, while industry representatives urged the government to ease taxation and streamline regulations for a more sustainable business environment. Speaking at the 8th Annual General Meeting of the Healthcare Devices Association of Pakistan (HDAP) on September 19, the minister stressed the need for international partnerships, joint ventures, and technology transfer. “Bring international companies to Pakistan for local manufacturing of medical devices, enter into joint ventures, and focus on technology transfer so we can end dependence on foreign devices and ensure national health security,” he said. Kamal underlined that Pakistan has high expectations from its medical device sector, calling for innovation...

Free, one-time vaccine aims for 90–95% coverage to protect against cervical cancer By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: The Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI), Sindh, is set to roll out the province’s first-ever Human Papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination campaign today (September 15). The 10-day initiative follows weeks of awareness and training drives and aims to reach as many as 4.1 million adolescent girls across urban and rural areas. According to official data, around 3,600 vaccinators will be deployed under the national campaign to administer a one-time HPV vaccine dose to girls aged 9–14. The delivery model combines fixed-site teams (490 vaccinators), outreach sessions (2,990 vaccinators) covering schools, madressahs, and community girls, and mobile units (131 vaccinators) to serve hard-to-reach populations. The official launch ceremony will be held at Khatoon-e-Pakistan Government Girls School, Stadium Road, Karachi, with Sindh Health and Population Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho...

IV Report KARACHI: Sindh Minister for Health Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho on September 9 inaugurated a renovated urban dispensary in Bilal Colony, Korangi, which the provincial government aims to transform into a centre providing both primary healthcare and family planning services under an initiative of Green Social Marketing (GSM). Speaking at the inauguration, Dr Pechuho said the government remained committed to ensuring that women, mothers, and children had access to quality healthcare and reproductive health services. “Upgrading facilities like Bilal Colony is a vital step toward universal health coverage and healthier communities,” she observed. The ceremony was also addressed by GSM Chief Executive Officer Dr Syed Azizur Rab, who noted that the dispensary upgrade formed part of a wider transformation plan supported by The Challenge Initiative (TCI) of GSM . “More than 50 health and population facilities across Sindh are being improved under this programme. The Bilal Colony facilit...

Ufone 4G, with Oladoc, to offer free consultations, discounted diagnostics and treatments for users KARACHI: A subsidiary of Pakistan Telecommunication Company (PTCL) signed an agreement on September 9 with Oladoc, a digital healthcare platform, to facilitate its 4G subscribers nationwide in accessing medical consultations and related services. According to a statement, Ufone 4G users will be able to use a designated application to connect with Oladoc’s network of more than 25,000 doctors and specialists. Services include free video consultations, in-clinic appointments, diagnostic tests, medicine delivery and selected surgeries at discounted rates. The agreement, signed in Islamabad by PTCL Vice President (Marketing) Atta Ur Rahman Mir and Oladoc CEO Abid Zubairi, highlighted Pakistan’s healthcare imbalance, with most doctors concentrated in urban centres while 62 per cent of the population lives in rural areas. Primary facilities in many regions remain under-resourced, leaving f...

Seminar at KU calls for balanced lifestyles, parental engagement, and awareness on harmful substances to safeguard young people IV Report KARACHI: Shedding light on the growing psychological challenges faced by young people, mental health experts and educators have urged interventions such as balanced lifestyles, stronger family and social engagement, and greater awareness of harmful substances. The call came during a seminar titled “Breaking the Silence, Hearing the Youth Perspective” , organised by the Department of Psychology, University of Karachi (KU), on September 3. KU Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Khalid M. Iraqi chaired the session, which brought together leading mental health specialists, educators, and students to explore meaningful solutions. Dr Iraqi stressed the importance of empathy and open dialogue, noting that “mutual trust and connection form the foundation for resolving youth issues effectively.” He urged parents and teachers to create safe spaces where young peo...

IV Report KARACHI: Medical and pharmaceutical dignitaries at a ceremony held at Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) highlighted the role of regulatory science in strengthening Pakistan’s healthcare system and pharmaceutical sector. The event, organised by the Dow Institute of Biological, Biochemical, and Pharmaceutical Sciences (IBBPS), marked the awarding of certificates to the first batch of about 230 graduates of a six-month programme in pharmaceutical regulations. The initiative, according to organisers, aims to equip young professionals with essential skills needed to align Pakistan’s pharmaceutical industry with global standards. Speakers stressed that the diploma holders would prove instrumental in boosting pharmaceutical exports, noting that the country has long lacked trained professionals in regulatory affairs—a key obstacle to enhancing international trade. DUHS Vice Chancellor Prof Jehan Ara Hasan, who was the chief guest, awarded diplomas to the graduates alo...