Latest news with #SICVD
Business Recorder
30-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
Baldia hospital: CM inaugurates 100-bed SICVD
KARACHI: Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah marked another significant milestone with the inauguration of The Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) Baldia Town Hospital, a new facility poised to deliver world-class, free-of-cost cardiac healthcare and announced to launch a second catheterisation lab and develop surgical operation theatres next year in the hospital. He said this while speaking at the inauguration ceremony, the 100-bedded SICVD Baldia on Thursday. The ceremony was attended by Minister Health Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Secretary Health Rehan Baloch, and Executive Director SICVD Professor Jawaid Akbar Sial, elected representatives of Kiamari and West district, medical professionals, and others. The SICVD facility was originally intended to be inaugurated by Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari. However, due to his leadership of Pakistan's high-level delegation in response to Indian aggression, Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah officiated the inauguration on his behalf. Background: The CM said that Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) had initiated the construction of the hospital years ago, funded by the Sindh government, but the project remained incomplete for a considerable time. The Sindh government later collaborated with SICVD, completing the hospital in just over eight months. The CM proudly announced that SICVD has evolved into the world's largest cardiac healthcare network, operating 10 full-fledged cardiac hospitals and 29 strategically located Chest Pain Units (CPUs) across the province. This extensive network currently treats over two million patients annually, all completely free of cost. He detailed the comprehensive services offered, including open-heart surgeries, stroke interventions, paediatric cardiac care, and emergency angioplasties, ensuring timely access to advanced cardiac treatment even in remote areas. Karachi alone, Murad Shah noted, is home to 19 chest pain units, strategically positioned in high-traffic locations such as Nagan Chowrangi, Landhi, Gizri, and within institutions like KIHD and JPMC. Beyond Karachi, CPUs are operational in districts like Thatta, Kashmore, Jacobabad, and Umerkot, effectively bringing emergency cardiac care to patients' doorsteps. Providing a broader context of development in Sindh, the chief minister shared recent data indicating that a total of 579 projects have been initiated or are currently underway across various public service and infrastructure sectors. To ensure the successful implementation and sustainability of these initiatives, 22,621 personnel, including technical staff, frontline workers, and administrative personnel, have been deployed. These figures, he highlighted, underscore the significant scale of development and human resources mobilised to benefit the people of Sindh. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Business Recorder
18-05-2025
- Health
- Business Recorder
89pc Pakistani patients fail to achieve controlled blood pressure: experts
KARACHI: A staggering 89 percent of Pakistanis diagnosed with hypertension are unable to bring their blood pressure under control, even while on prescribed medication, sparking fresh alarm among public health specialists who warn the unchecked 'silent killer' is tightening its grip across the nation. Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club (KPC) to mark World Hypertension Day, leading cardiologists and public health officials expressed deep concern over the growing number of Pakistanis, especially young individuals, suffering from uncontrolled blood pressure, a condition often dubbed the 'silent killer.' Dr Javed Akbar Sial, Executive Director of the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD), revealed that only 11 percent of those taking antihypertensive medication are successful in managing their blood pressure. 'Even in the United States, just around 14 percent of patients achieve effective control. This is a global crisis, but in Pakistan, it's growing at an alarming rate,' he warned. According to Dr Sial, over 40 to 50 percent of the adult population in Pakistan is hypertensive, and the disease becomes increasingly prevalent and dangerous with age. 'The most fatal diseases globally are cardiac in nature, and hypertension is the biggest contributing factor. Most people don't even realize they have it until it causes severe complications,' he said, adding that half the rural population remains unaware of their condition. The press conference was jointly organized by SICVD, the Alkhidmat Foundation Sindh, and Discovering Hypertensiona joint initiative targeting early detection and community awareness. Officials from all three organisations signed an agreement to launch comprehensive screening programs for blood pressure and other diseases across thirty districts in Sindh. Dr Masood Javed, Head of Discovering Hypertension, shared troubling findings from a pilot project conducted in seven districts including Naushero Feroze, Qambar, Ratodero, Dadu, and Tharparkar. 'We screened over 5,000 people. Shockingly, 50 percent of the newly diagnosed patients had previously stopped taking medication, believing they had recovered. Among those still on medication, 74 percent had uncontrolled blood pressure,' he said. Only 26 percent of patients were both compliant with their medication and successfully managing their condition. Dr Masood emphasised that individuals with uncontrolled hypertension remain at constant risk of heart attacks and strokes. He highlighted lifestyle habits such as excessive consumption of sugary drinks, lack of physical activity, and frequent intake of unhealthy street food as key contributors to the worsening situation. 'Even in villages, the shift from jaggery to refined sugar and the growing availability of cold drinks are aggravating the crisis,' he noted. Dr Tabassum Jafri, President of Alkhidmat Foundation Sindh, stressed the need to integrate hypertension and diabetes care in community health programs. 'Our three mobile units provide screening services in several districts of Sindh. But awareness is critical. People must understand what hypertension is, and how to prevent it,' he said. 'We must take healthcare to people's doorsteps and change our collective lifestyle to reverse this trend.' Discovering Hyperten-sion's Project Director, Mujtaba Alam, said their mission is to find patients who are unaware of their health status. 'Just last year, we identified 10,000 people with hypertension who had no idea they were living with this condition,' he said. Copyright Business Recorder, 2025
Express Tribune
13-03-2025
- Health
- Express Tribune
CM lists progress in health, education
Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah presented a comprehensive report on his government's achievements from March 2024 to March 2025, stressing progress in healthcare, education, digital transformation, agriculture, and infrastructure development. During a presentation, held at the CM House, Shah said that the government has achieved remarkable progress over the past year through digital transformation, infrastructure development, and agricultural advancements. He added that these initiatives have impacted public services, business facilitation, and socio-economic growth. Healthcare The healthcare sector has seen remarkable progress, including technological enhancements and expanded services. The NICVD Karachi treated 1.4 million patients and performed over 5,000 surgeries, while the Sindh Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases (SICVD) launched a cardiac emergency centre in Baldia Town and a stroke program in Sukkur. The Institute of Medical Science Gambat excelled in organ transplants, completing over 200 liver and 100 kidney transplants. Hospitals like JPMC, DUHS, and Indus are expanding services with new technologies, such as robotic systems for surgery and cancer treatment. The Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto Institute of Trauma treated 70,000 patients, while the Sindh Institute of Child Health & Neonatology opened new ICUs and pediatric units. A major focus on pediatric emergency care has reduced infant mortality to 2.9% in Sindh, better than the national average of 5.4%. Digital transformation The Sindh police implemented the S4 system, which includes facial recognition cameras at 42 toll plazas. The Excise & Taxation Department introduced an online vehicle tax system, generating Rs640 million, which has funded the construction of 2,100 houses for flood victims. Digital initiatives also extended to business facilitation. The Sindh government launched the CLICK Karobar app, allowing entrepreneurs to navigate 130 licences and permits in 16 departments. An e-licensing portal is also set to streamline approvals for businesses. Education & IT The People's Information Technology Program (PITP) awarded scholarships to 13,428 students, with 2,528 securing jobs. The government trained 3,000 university students and 200 teachers across various regions, and 1,500 graduates completed an IT boot camp, with 870 becoming self-employed. Infra & road development The province's infrastructure received a major boost with 196 new roads constructed, covering over 2,500 kilometres, and 120 roads repaired after flood damage. Key projects like the Hyderabad-Mirpurkhas Road and Tharparkar-Alibandar Road were completed. Water management & agriculture The Sindh Irrigation Department established the Hydroinformatics Centre for better water management, and 251 kilometres of watercourses were lined to improve irrigation. In agriculture, the government distributed solar-powered tube-wells, agricultural tools, and kitchen gardening kits to empower farmers, including 900 women.
