In connection with the 'World Health Day', the Hamdard Public School, Madinat al-Hikmah, Karachi and Hamdard Foundation Pakistan was organised a 15th International Children's Health Conference on Thursday.
Sadia Rasheed said that the continuing its founder's tradition, Hamdard will hold one more conference on children's health to mark WHO's Health Day.
"This year the topic is 'Working Together for Health', and it celebrates health workers and aims to raise awareness in the public about those who provide health care to those who need it."
She said that this year it is somewhat different. The health problem is focused upon. But this is not a disease or condition of patients directly. The health workers secure that suffers among the public.
The health workforce the world over is in crisis. Even in the most developed countries, there is a severe shortage of health personnel and this is not restricted to doctors. There is an even greater shortage of nurses, of support staff, educators and trainers, she said.
Sadia said that in Canada there will be 60,000 nursing positions vacant over the next 6-7 years; and 168,000 nurses are needed in the USA. Making a bad situation worse. The fact is that the majority of health workers are concentrated in the large cities, leaving rural areas in an even worse plight.
The Chief Guest, Professor S. Tipu Sultan, Dean Faculty of Anaesthesia CPSP, said that the Foundation is struggling and fighting in traditional manner in health and education sector.
He said that having good health is the right of everyone. The situation in Pakistan is very bad in view of workers conditions.
Tipu demanded government should increase about 16 and 12 percent of GDP for health and education sectors respectively.
The President of Conference, Dr Khalif Bile Mohamud, WHO Representative, Islamabad said that health is the primary object of every country and human resource is back bone of health sector.
Khalif appreciated the children efforts and announced certificates for all participants of the conference as an health worker delivered by WHO.
He emphasised the children don't stop the work. Promote the healthy atmosphere in home, schools and everywhere. Whenever you see any person who smokes to stop the unhealthy activity.