Islamabad: The federal government has set aside Rs6.8 billion for the diabetes prevention and control programme, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on November 13. The money is meant to widen screening and improve early detection and treatment across Pakistan.
The announcement came in a message the prime minister issued ahead of World Diabetes Day, which is observed on November 14.
Why diabetes is a priority
In that message, the prime minister described diabetes as a growing public health concern in Pakistan. He said the disease calls for joint action, timely medical care and wider public awareness. Diabetes is a long-term condition in which blood sugar levels stay too high, and it can lead to serious complications if it goes undetected.
This year's theme for the day, "Early Action on Diabetes", points to catching the condition early so that complications can be prevented.
What the programme aims to do
The diabetes prevention and control programme, Sharif said, centres on extending screening coverage, strengthening primary healthcare and making diagnosis and care easier to reach. Primary healthcare means the basic, first-level medical services people usually reach through local clinics and health centres. He argued that finding people at risk sooner, through checks and quick diagnosis, is what can keep the disease from taking hold or getting worse.
He said the government had put together a comprehensive plan to tackle the rising number of cases. Sharif also named healthy lifestyles, public awareness and closer coordination between federal and provincial governments as priorities for carrying the initiative out.
He urged citizens to exercise regularly, eat a balanced diet, go for routine medical check-ups and consult qualified health professionals in good time. He said reducing how widespread diabetes is needs shared responsibility, sound policies and steady investment in health services. He ended by calling for united efforts toward a healthier and more prosperous Pakistan.
What happens next
The prime minister said the programme's success depends on coordination between Islamabad and the provinces, along with public awareness. The next date on the calendar is World Diabetes Day on November 14, the occasion for the prime minister's message.
Aasan alfaaz mein
Federal government ne diabetes ki rokthaam aur control ke programme ke liye Rs6.8 billion rakhe hain. Is ka maqsad screening, jaldi tashkhees aur ilaj ki suhulat ko behtar banana hai. Prime Minister ne logon ko kasrat, mutawazin khana aur waqt par check-up karane ki salah di hai. Aam aadmi ke liye iska matlab hai ke ehtiyat aur jaldi check-up se bimari ka pata jaldi chal sakta hai.
