More than 1 million cases of diarrhea are being reported in Pakistan every month, as a result of which about 110 children die every day.
These views were expressed by the health experts while addressing a seminar on ‘Importance of Zinc for Health’ held at a local hotel in Karachi.
Experts said that most children’s lives could be saved by giving them zinc supplements. After the devastating floods in Sindh and Balochistan last year, zinc supplements were given to thousands of children along with ORS, which resulted in thousands of children suffering from diarrhea and malnutrition. Be safe from
The awareness seminar was organized by Pakistan Zinc Society and the local pharmaceutical institute, which was addressed by Dr. Abdul Bari, CEO of Indus Hospital Karachi, Prof. Nadeem Qamar, Executive Director of National Institute of Cardiology and others.
Experts said that the production of zinc products in pre-qualified plants from the World Health Organization in Pakistan is very welcome, as a result of which Pakistan will be less dependent on the products of foreign pharmaceutical companies.
He said that now domestic and foreign companies will be able to buy zinc products at a cheaper price from the local company Pharmivo instead of importing them, which will not only save valuable foreign exchange, but will also help more children. Zinc can help prevent diarrhea and subsequent deaths.
Professor Dr. Abdul Bari Khan said that the pre-qualification of zinc medicines made by a Pakistani company from WHO is a very welcome development for Pakistan.
He said that after the floods in Sindh and Balochistan last year, lakhs of children suffered from diarrhea but the lives of majority of them could have been saved by giving them zinc supplements.
According to Dr. Abdul Bari Khan, UNICEF and other international donor agencies buy zinc products from multinational pharmaceutical companies, but now after the declaration of the local pharmaceutical company as a WHO pre-qualified plant, these products will be available to these organizations for a few rupees. As a result, they can be delivered to most parts of the country.
He said that Pakistani pharmaceutical companies exported drugs and products worth 713 million US dollars last year and it is hoped that now the export of Pakistani products will reach one billion dollars. He further said that diarrhea is the second leading cause of death among children and unfortunately 50% of children who die from diarrhea are from Pakistan, India and Nigeria.
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