PIMA calls for national stroke prevention programme
By: Farah Jamil, Uploaded: 30th October 2013
KARACHI: Doctors have urged the government to initiate “National Stroke Prevention Programme” with major focus on public awareness campaign, formation of prevention guidelines and support for research related to stroke.
Through the platform of Pakistan Islamic Medical Association (PIMA) on Wednesday they said that despite being third cause of death and a leading cause of disability in the country stroke has received little attention from health care authorities.
PIMA President, Dr Misbahul Aziz, Neuro-physician Prof Muhammad Tariq and Neurologist Dr Abdul Malik cited Stroke as one of the unfortunate diseases in Pakistan.
They said that due to poor post stroke care up to 40% die within six months and remaining 60% are added to the pool of disabled people.
Mentioning that high blood pressure or hypertension is the top most cause of stroke they said as per National Health survey every third Pakistani above age 45 is hypertensive.
Majority of these patients are unaware of their high blood pressure and they only find out once they have a stroke or heart attack, which is too late, said the doctors.
They said Pakistan is also home to five million Diabetics and around 20 million tobacco users (smokers, shisha, chewing tobacco) that are the major risk factors for stroke.
It was mentioned that stroke is a treatable problem and a large number of patients are able to go back to work after a stroke because of acute stroke management, dedicated in patient care and intense rehabilitation programme.
Research has shown that more than half of this stroke could be prevented by effective Blood Pressure control and risk factor management.
oilprices edges lower in Asian trade
Last Updated On 30 October,2013 About 5 hours ago
Brent was weighed by profit-taking, Kan said, following recent gains over Middle East concerns.
SINGAPORE (AFP) - Oil prices edged lower in Asian trade Wednesday as investors bet on a further increase in US inventories, indicating weak demand in the world s top crude consumer.
New York s main contract, West Texas Intermediate (WTI) for delivery in December, was down 51 cents at $97.69 in afternoon trade, while Brent North Sea crude for December shed 23 cents to $108.78.
"Plentiful supply in the US, with expectations of a further increase in crude stockpiles, is putting pressure on prices," Kenny Kan, market analyst at CMC Markets in Singapore, told AFP.
Dealers are expecting the US Department of Energy (DoE) weekly inventory report due out Wednesday to show a rise of more than two million barrels in the week to October 25, Kan said.
US oil prices hit a near four-month low last week following DoE reports indicating a bulge in stockpiles. A rise indicate weak demand in the world s biggest economy and oil consuming nation.
Brent was weighed by profit-taking, Kan said, following recent gains over Middle East supply concerns.
Production in Libya, an OPEC member, has been disrupted for months after labour unrest forced terminals to shut, slashing output to below 100,000 barrels per day. Before the shutdowns, Libya was producing between 1.5 million and 1.6 million barrels daily.
Production has increased in recent weeks, but an uptick in protests has raised concerns about exports owing to near-daily attacks and bombings that some fear could lead to civil war.
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