An alarming 70 percent of diseases in the country are spread through contaminated water due to the lack of a comprehensive sewage treatment system.
This was stated by Mustafa Kamal stated while addressing a ceremony, according to an official statement released today. He highlighted expert opinions suggesting that providing clean drinking water could slash the nation’s disease burden by up to 70 percent.
During his address, Kamal identified uncontrolled population growth as a significant impediment to national development, noting that approximately 6.1 million children are born in the country every year. He stressed the urgent need to manage population expansion in line with the nation”s available resources.
He also drew attention to persistent challenges in disease prevention, particularly regarding polio. Kamal pointed out that Pakistan remains one of only two countries globally where the virus has not been eradicated and underscored the necessity of educating the public to ensure all children receive the polio vaccine.
Expanding on preventive care, Kamal urged parents to ensure their children are fully vaccinated against thirteen preventable diseases. He confirmed that the government provides these immunisations free of charge and called for awareness campaigns to dispel misconceptions surrounding vaccination.
Praising the pivotal role of medical support staff, he described nurses and paramedics as the “backbone of the healthcare system.” Kamal observed that while doctors have limited interaction with patients, nursing staff provide continuous care for nearly 23 hours a day and urged them to treat all patients with compassion and kindness.
Kamal asserted that meaningful improvements to the medical sector require collective efforts from both the government and private organisations. Commending the Sultana Foundation for its long-standing contributions to health and education, he emphasised that healthcare extends beyond treating illness to actively preventing people from becoming sick.
He concluded by reinforcing that enhancing the health sector is a shared responsibility, requiring concerted action from both the state and its citizens to protect communities from preventable health crises.