5th International Public Health Conference at KMU: Call to scale up non-communicable diseases’ prevention efforts

PESHAWAR: Speakers identified the urgent need to scale up Non-Communicable Diseases (NCD) prevention efforts through multi-sectoral approaches as the 5th International Public Health Conference got underway at the Khyber Medical University (KMU) on Wednesday.

The event brought together public health experts, clinicians, researchers, and policymakers from across the country and abroad to deliberate on critical health challenges facing the region and the world.

Day one of the conference centered on two pivotal themes: Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) and the Climate Change & Health Nexus, emphasizing the need for integrated and interdisciplinary strategies in public health.

The conference opened with a plenary session on Non-Communicable Diseases. KMU Vice-Chancellor Professor Dr Ziaul Haq delivered a keynote address on “The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Handling the Pandemic of NCDs.”

He stressed that the global burden of NCDs can no longer be managed without prioritizing prevention through behavior change, community-level interventions, and a shift in medical education toward lifestyle medicine.

Professor Abdul Jalil Khan, Director of Family Medicine at KMU, presented “Bridging the Gaps: Insights from the UK for Tackling NCDs Globally.”He urged adaptation of scalable primary healthcare models that are sensitive to the needs of low- and middle-income countries.

Dr Munaira Abbasi, a US-based physician, spoke on “Combating NCDs: The Role of Lifestyle Medicine in Public Health.”She emphasized the urgent need for clinicians to adopt a preventive and holistic approach, highlighting how clinical care must intersect with public health initiatives to combat rising NCD trends.

A panel discussion followed, featuring Dr Bilal Imtiaz from UNICEF, Dr. Fawad Khan of WHO, Dr. Muhammad Khalil Akhtar from KP’s Health Sector Reforms Unit, and Professor Dr Ziaul Haq.

The panel identified the urgent need to scale up NCD prevention efforts through multisectoral approaches.The afternoon session shifted focus to the Climate Change and Health Nexus, with keynote speaker Dr. Jai Das, Associate Professor at Aga Khan University, delivering a presentation titled “The Climate-Health Nexus: Impact, Shaping Adaptation and Resilience.”

Dr Das underscored the compounding impact of climate change on vulnerable populations, including women, children, and the urban poor. He called for integrated national policies that address environmental sustainability and public health in tandem, warning that failure to act now would undo decades of public health progress.

Dr Maria Ishaq Khattak presented her research on “Understanding Climate Change and Health Vulnerability: Socio-Economic Incentives for Climate Resilience among Informal Sector Workers in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.” Her findings shed light on the increased susceptibility of informal workers to climate-induced health risks such as heat stress, waterborne illnesses, and respiratory infections.

The session on “Strengthening Primary Health Care Through the Family Practice Approach” focused on revitalizing Pakistan’s primary healthcare system through the integration of family medicine.

Experts emphasized that trained family physicians are essential for ensuring accessible, equitable, and continuous care. The “Dental Public Health” session shed light on the widespread burden of oral diseases and the urgent need for integrated, preventive oral health programs.

Speakers advocated for school-based oral health programs, community interventions, and the establishment of national oral health surveillance systems.Another important session on “Integrated Nutrition Programs and Their Impact in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa” addressed the longstanding issue of malnutrition in the region.

Presenters shared data and success stories from nutrition-sensitive and nutrition-specific interventions, particularly those targeting women, infants, and children. Speakers emphasized the need to address urban-rural disparities in program access and called for sustained investment and policy continuity to ensure long-term nutrition gains.