Spokesman Report
Rawalpindi : Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) ,Heart Surgeon, Maj Gen (Retd) Dr. Masud Ur Rehman Kiani has called attention of Chief Minister Punjab, Maryam Nawaz Sharif towards the counterproductive effects of supply of Canned Flavored Milk to school children. He has urged on the gov of Punjab to keep the sugary and flavored drinks away from the children for their health.
PANAH learned from media that a project was approved to provide canned flavored milk to fifth-grade students in Punjab.
The President of PANAH writes in the letter, ” We would like to bring to your attention that flavored milks are high in sugar and should not be provided to children as per recommendations by World Health Organization (WHO).”
” This will prove counterproductive and cause increase in obesity and many diseases among the children. We request you to halt the supply flavored milk to school students and switch to unsweetened milk which is a healthier alternative for children, Dr. Kiani said.
He further noted in the letter , “It is well established fact that high consumption of Sweet drinks like sodas, juices, chocolate shakes and flavored milk etc are among the major causes of obesity, diabetes, heart diseases, several types of cancers, liver and kidney diseases, and tooth decay in children.”
” The research shows that these drinks are high in sugar and their regular consumption increases the risk of the chronic diseases like diabetes by 30 percent. The National Nutrition Survey estimates that the number of overweight children has doubled from 2011 to 2018 in Pakistan and people living with diabetes has increased to over 33 million in 2021″
Dr. Kiani has offered his expert feedback to the CM Punjab in this regard. He is available to brief and provide more facts about flavored milks and risks associated with it to school aged children.
PANAH was established in 1984 at AFIC/NIHD for the purpose of public advocacy for prevention of heart diseases and training people in Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). The President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan by virtue of his position is our Patron-in-Chief. PANAH under take research and works closely with policy makers to advocate for policies to reduce Non-communicable Diseases and many other fetal diseases.