Health Mela and Awareness Walk Highlight Pakistan’s Urgent Diabetes Crisis

By Muhammad Saleem —

Islamabad, Pakistan

ISLAMABAD: On World Diabetes Day, the Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) and coalition partners hosted a health mela and awareness walk at the National Press Club, Islamabad, drawing attention to the country’s alarming rise in diabetes cases. Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr. Atta Tarar, attended as chief guest.

Experts reported that Pakistan’s diabetes cases have surged from 6.3 million in 2011 to 33 million in 2021, with an additional one million people at risk as pre-diabetic. This increase places Pakistan among the top countries worldwide for diabetes prevalence, with one in three adults affected. Approximately 1,100 deaths occur daily due to diabetes and related complications, and projections indicate the number of cases could reach 70 million by 2050 without urgent policy interventions.

The awareness walk was jointly organized by PANAH, Heartfile, Pakistan Youth Change Advocates (PYCA), and the Centre for Peace and Development Initiatives (CPDI). Participants included health experts, government officials, civil society representatives, youth groups, media professionals, and citizens from all walks of life.

During the event, experts highlighted that unhealthy diets are a major contributor to diabetes and other non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Participants carried placards calling on the government to implement evidence-based public health policies, including: increasing taxes on ultra-processed products (UPPs), enacting mandatory Front-of-Pack Warning Labels (FOPWLs), and banning partially hydrogenated oils (PHOs), a key source of trans fats.

Under the patronage of Maj. Gen. (R) Masud Ur Rehman Kiani, President PANAH, a free medical camp offered consultations, diagnostic tests, and medicines. Specialists from cardiology, oncology, gynecology, pediatrics, dermatology, psychiatry, ophthalmology, and urology provided services to promote early detection, prevention, and lifestyle modification.

The Health Mela also featured online podcast discussions with health experts and representatives from PANAH, Heartfile, CPDI, and PYCA. Discussions emphasized the dangers of ultra-processed products and sugary drinks, which contribute to Type 2 diabetes and other life-threatening diseases. Policy experts highlighted global evidence showing that taxation and mandatory labeling of unhealthy foods reduce consumption and encourage industry reformulation.

Experts also stressed the urgent need to ban PHOs, a major source of industrial trans fats, to prevent cardiovascular diseases. The World Health Organization recommends complete elimination of trans fats, and such a ban in Pakistan could save thousands of lives annually and improve overall public health.

The event reinforced the importance of immediate, coordinated action to address the diabetes epidemic and other NCDs in Pakistan.