HEADLINE NEWS THE RISING NEPAL (DAILY)

Cardic ailments becoming problem in South Asia: PM

RSS

KATHMANDU, March 2: Prime Minister Lokendra Bahadur Chand inaugurated the 2nd joint conference of Cardiac Society of Nepal and SAARC Cardiac Society amidst a function held here today.

About 200 cardiologists and cardiac surgeons from the SAARC countries have been participating in the conference which is organised with a view to achieve better understanding on common issues and problems of heart disease being faced by the SAARC countries Heart disease is rapidly increasing in South Asia Region. It has severe economic consequences that result from premature death, long term disability and cost for patients, it is said.The problem of rheumatic heart disease is still a major problem in the South Asia Region.Though the coronary artery disease is declining in the developed countries, it is rapidly increasing in the SAARC Region. Almost five per cent of civil servants above the age of 30 are suffering from coronary artery disease in Nepal, according to a survey done in Nepal about five years ago.

In India, prevalence of coronary artery disease has been reported as being 11 per cent in 2001.
Inaugurating the conference Prime Minister Chand said there should be co-ordinated efforts of the SAARC countries to the common problem of heart disease, which is increasing every year.
"In recent decades, the occurrence of heart disease has become common to developing countries while previously it was thought to be rich men's disease" he said.

Though miraculous achievements have been made in the treatment of cardiac ailments, they are too expensive and therefore unaffordable for the general people of our region," he added.

Prime Minister said "given the seriousness of the disease, it is high time for us to educate our people for its preventive measures."

He urged the participants to come up with a vision and thinking in serving the society with more dedication and commitment.

Prime Minister Chand also called on the cardiac surgeons and cardiologists to discuss and deliberate on issues of concern with emphasis on providing cheaper health care for the poor.

"Ours is a region dominated by poor, so all our efforts need to be directed towards the cause of their service and upliftment," he said.

If co-operation in health among the SAARC countries is a must, co-operating among other nations is also equal important, he added.

"We share common problems and common constraints. If deliberations at this conference can lead to mutually beneficial co-operation among the SAARC countries, it will further open a new area of togetherness and solidarity, which is what we are striving for," Prime Minister said.

Health Minister Dr. Upendra Devkota said there is the need of finding out treatment method through research and study in accordance with our social, economic, and cultural reality of the South Asia Region.

Dr. Devkota said the specialists should focus their attention to make the treatment accessible to the general public in an easy manner rather than fix expensive treatment price through expensive nursing homes in the name of modern equipment.

Prof. Abdul Malik of Bangladesh, Dr. M. Khalilullah of India and Dr. Dur Gunawardane of Sri Lanka said that the disease could be prevented through education and awareness generation rather than expensive treatment methods in the region.

President of SAARC Cardiac Society Dr. Mrigendra Raj Pandey and general secretary of Cardiac Society of Nepal Dr. Arun Sayami said there is the need of co-ordinated efforts for the treatment of the heart disease in the region.

Other Stories