Number Of Parkinson's Disease Rises To 1 Million In Pakistan

Records available with the doctors in their individual capacities indicate steady surge in the incidence rate of Parkinson's Disease in the country, with no less than one million inflicted with the condition

KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 14th Feb, 2018 ) :Records available with the doctors in their individual capacities indicate steady surge in the incidence rate of Parkinson's Disease in the country, with no less than one million inflicted with the condition.

Experts addressing a ceremony organized by Neurology Awareness and & Research Foundation (NARF) in collaboration with the Movement Disorders Society Pakistan (MDSP) here Wednesday to launch video CDs containing 13 lectures by top neurologists of the country attributed this to series of factors including increase in the average life span of the people.

Senior neurologists including Prof. Muhammad Wasay, Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rana (Founder World Parkinson's Program - Canada), Dr. Nadir Ali Syed, Dr. Syed Asad Abbas and Dr. Abdul Malik on the occasion highlighted urgency to establish a national registry to help the patients in a more focused and organized manner.

Prof. Dr. Muhammad Wasay said 1.5 billion in the world comprise those above 50 years of whom 10% to 15% suffer from one or the other category of neurological disease. "The exact status of Parkinson's prevalence in Pakistan is not known, however, it is estimated to have inflicted no less than one million," he said.

Prof. Muhammad Wasay said efforts are underway to soon launch a countrywide mental health survey so as to ascertain actual number of patients and devise a strategy to address this population for their well being and healthy living.

Referring to existent situation, he said most of the neurologists in the country find a significant number of their patients above 50 years suffering from Parkinson's and/or Alzheimer's. MDSP, he said has already issued guidelines about Parkinson's disease is now creating public awareness about the condition.

Dr. Abdul Wasay regretted that there was neither any special treatment facility available nor there exists adequate management arrangement for Parkinson's patients in government run health facilities.

"We do hope that government will soon launch a program to cater to health needs of elderly people," he said responding to media query. Dr. Abdul Qayyum Rana negated the perception that Parkinson's is a disease peculiar to elderly people and on basis of his experience in Canada said presently more than 10 percent of patients were under the age of 50 years.

Symptoms of Parkinson disease, he said include depression, difficulty to recall memory, less control on urination, constipation etc. "People generally ignore such symptoms and largely relate these to old age," said Dr.

Rana and reiterated that public awareness about the ailment was very necessary. The Pakistani origin doctor from Canada said his organization was arranging free of cost medicines for Parkinson's patients through neurologists in Pakistan.

He appreciated that local community of neurologists is making concerted efforts to raise awareness about the disease and has published relevant material in urdu language to cater needs of patients in the country.

President, Movement Disorder Society of Pakistan, Dr. Nadir Ali Syed said the society is working to train and enhance skills of 1000 general practitioners for timely diagnosis and management of neurological diseases in the country.

Dr. Abdul Malik highlighted importance of creating awareness among masses for prevention of neurological diseases so as to improve health and life quality of patients. The speakers were unanimous in their opinion that production of the CDs comprising public awareness lectures about the ailment, its symptoms, manifestations and severity coupled with simple measures to avert complications was a major step to sensitize people in general.

Muhammad Irshad Jan, a Parkinson's disease patient represented Pakistan Parkinson's Society on the occasion.