What does Bremerton’s Mayor, Patty Lent, have to do Aga Khan University and the National Alliance for Tobacco Control seminar?
Both honored World COPD Day on Wednesday, 16 November 2011.
Mayor Lent had Adam Brockus present the 2011 World COPD Day Proclamation at the Bremerton City Council meeting, Wednesday, 16 November 2011.
Thank you Mayor Lent, Adam Brockus and the city council members! Karma Foley of Seabeck will get the actual certificate because she lost both parents to COPD and Asbestosis and I’ll treasure my copy of it.
See photos below another World COPD Day story from the other side of the world, Karachi, Pakistan.
““…(COPD) disease poses a major health hazard and unfortunately remains largely under-diagnosed and under-treated in Pakistan, said experts gathered at a collaborative seminar organised by the Aga Khan University and the National Alliance for Tobacco Control. The seminar was held at the Aga Khan University to commemorate World COPD Day.
COPD affects more than 340 million people and is one of the leading causes of death worldwide,” said Prof Nadeem Rizvi, president of the Pakistan Chest Society and the Head Department of Chest Diseases, JPMC, Karachi.
Elaborating on the risk factors, Professor Javaid Khan, Head, Section of Pulmonolgy, the AKU said that smoking was a major risk factor for the disease.
“Significant societal and quality of life benefits could be achieved if greater steps are taken to prevent the condition, such as greater access to smoking cessation programmes, earlier diagnosis and appropriate management strategies to control the condition and slow down the spread of the disease,” explained Prof Khan.
He called for the implementation of clean air laws in the country similar to the Sindh Assembly resolution passed earlier this year banning the use of Shisha in restaurants.
The use of biomass fuel like wood and coal in cooking is another important cause for this disease, especially for women living in rural areas.
Unfortunately, most patients visit their doctors very late when severe damage to the lungs has already been done. Smokers should seek help from smoking cessation experts, who could not only share with them some practical tips on how to quit smoking, but also how best to utilize new medicine designed to help with quitting.
http://www.thenews.com.pk/TodaysPrintDetail.aspx?ID=78106&Cat=4
Thanks for reading…. Sharon O’Hara
