KARACHI:

A team of health experts and doctors decided to launch a campaign in remote and rural areas of the country to prevent the spread of diabetes in the country under which people potentially affected from the disease will be screened.

According to details, an agreement has been reached between Screening Outreach Discovering Diabetes (SODD) and the Primary Care Diabetes Association (PCDA) under which the two has set a target of reaching at least one million diabetic patients living in villages, towns and cities of Pakistan. Under the agreement, people living in villages and towns across Pakistan having signs and symptoms of diabetes will be screened free of charge. The agreement also provides for plantation work in 100 health facilities across the country while funds will also be provided to the hospitals for the maintenance of these plants.

As per the medical experts, Pakistan ranks third in the list of countries most affected by diabetes, but in terms of population ratio, Pakistan ranks first.

Renowned diabetes specialist and President PCDA Dr Fariduddin, Secretary Dr Rashtat Ali Khan, Deputy CO of Pharmaceutical Company PharmEvo Jamshed Ahmed, anchorperson Waseem Badami and Discovering Diabetes chief Abdul Samad were present at the agreement signing ceremony.