Careers

Concept Note Background: Obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart, blood pressure, diabetes and kidney diseases pose a growing threat to public health in Pakistan. Obesity is the leading cause of many NCDS. The National Nutrition Survey 2018 (NNS) revealed alarming trends, with the prevalence of childhood overweight nearly doubling from 2011 to 2018. Similarly, the rates of obesity and overweight among women of reproductive age increased from 28% to 38% during the same period. According to the NCDs STEP Survey 2014-2015, 41.3% of adults were obese or overweight, and 37% had hypertension. Pakistan ranks third globally in the burden of type 2 diabetes, with over 33 million cases, as per the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2021 report which is a threat to our public health and economy. Unhealthy dietary practices and high consumption of sugar, salt, and fats are among the leading contributors to the increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity, and NCDs. The ultra-processed products (UPPs) including Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) are among the major source of intake of these nutrients of concern and negatively impacting the public health, hospital expenditure and economy of the country. The sweet drinks with non-sugar sweeteners are also proven to be hazardous to the public health. The evidence shows that reduced consumption of UPPs and consumption of minimally processed healthy diet help in reducing the diseases burden and improving overall nutrition and public health.

Goals: The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) is committed to addressing these health challenges through a comprehensive advocacy campaign. The primary objectives of this campaign are to: 1. Advocate for the regulations of Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL) and warning signs regulations on Ultra-processed foods, empowering consumers to make informed and healthier food choices. 2. increasing taxes on all types of sweet drinksis proven to reduce its affordability and overall consumption, thereby curbing the negative health impact. Youth Engagement to Promote Healthy Diets

Summary: Youth represent a vital and dynamic segment of society capable of raising awareness about the health hazards of Ultra processed foods and influencing policy makers to prioritize measures such as FOPWL and increased taxes on SSBs. To achieve these goals, the engagement and encouragement of youth through social media will play a pivotal role in driving change. Youth are proven to be effective on mobilizing public support for policy changes through several ways including the use of digital platforms.
Key Components of the Concept: Engaging Academic Institutions: PANAH will collaborate with University students through their head of departments or the nominated focal points. Encouraging Student Participation: Students will be encouraged to actively participate in campaign by sharing their opinions, insights, and innovative ideasaimed at advocating policy makers to enact mandatory regulations on FOPWL on ultraprocessed foods, and sustain and progressively increase taxes on SSBs in Finance Bill 2024.

Innovative Ideas and Communication: Students will brainstorm innovative ideas on how to effectively communicate the importance of mandatory FOPWL on UPPs and progressively increase taxes on SSBs. They will design and plan their ideas like short videos stories on social media (Facebook, You tube, TikTok, Twitter, X/Twitter etc) with plan to increase the reach, media articles, creating community support groups, letters campaign to the policy makers or other innovative ideas etc. We encourage youth innovations and ideas to mobilizing policy support to discourage consumption on UPPs and SSBs. Innovative and scalable ideas will be awarded small grants amounting PKRs 10,000 to 50,000/ to support the implementation of their ideas with in the stipulated timelines.

Format of Submission of Idea: The idea shallbe briefly described with in maximum 500 words, clearly identifying the objectives, how it shall contribute in mobilizing the intended policy support (FOPWL, Tax), timelines to implement and plan to increase the reach or scalability.

Recognizing Excellence: To motivate and recognize outstanding contributions, PANAH will organize a “Youth Excellence Award” ceremony and give shield and mementos to students who have successfully implemented their ideas. Submission of the Idea: The students/youthwill submit their ideas to PANAH through email: panahssb@gmail.com maximum by October 15, 2023.


Concept Note Background: Obesity and non-communicable diseases (NCDs) like heart, blood pressure, diabetes and kidney diseases pose a growing threat to public health in Pakistan. Obesity is the leading cause of many NCDS. The National Nutrition Survey 2018 (NNS) revealed alarming trends, with the prevalence of childhood overweight nearly doubling from 2011 to 2018. Similarly, the rates of obesity and overweight among women of reproductive age increased from 28% to 38% during the same period. According to the NCDs STEP Survey 2014-2015, 41.3% of adults were obese or overweight, and 37% had hypertension. Pakistan ranks third globally in the burden of type 2 diabetes, with over 33 million cases, as per the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) 2021 report which is a threat to our public health and economy. Unhealthy dietary practices and high consumption of sugar, salt, and fats are among the leading contributors to the increasing prevalence of overweight, obesity, and NCDs. The ultra-processed products (UPPs) including Sugar Sweetened Beverages (SSBs) are among the major source of intake of these nutrients of concern and negatively impacting the public health, hospital expenditure and economy of the country. The sweet drinks with non-sugar sweeteners are also proven to be hazardous to the public health. The evidence shows that reduced consumption of UPPs and consumption of minimally processed healthy diet help in reducing the diseases burden and improving overall nutrition and public health.

Goals: The Pakistan National Heart Association (PANAH) is committed to addressing these health challenges through a comprehensive advocacy campaign. The primary objectives of this campaign are to:
1. Advocate for the regulations of Front-of-Package Labeling (FOPL) and warning signs regulations on Ultra-processed foods, empowering consumers to make informed and healthier food choices.
2. increasing taxes on all types of sweet drinksis proven to reduce its affordability and overall consumption, thereby curbing the negative health impact. Youth Engagement to Promote Healthy Diets

Summary: Youth represent a vital and dynamic segment of society capable of raising awareness about the health hazards of Ultra processed foods and influencing policy makers to prioritize measures such as FOPWL and increased taxes on SSBs. To achieve these goals, the engagement and encouragement of youth through social media will play a pivotal role in driving change. Youth are proven to be effective on mobilizing public support for policy changes through several ways including the use of digital platforms.

Key Components of the Concept: Engaging Academic Institutions: PANAH will collaborate with University students through their head of departments or the nominated focal points. Encouraging Student Participation: Students will be encouraged to actively participate in campaign by sharing their opinions, insights, and innovative ideasaimed at advocating policy makers to enact mandatory regulations on FOPWL on ultraprocessed
foods, and sustain and progressively increase taxes on SSBs in Finance Bill 2024.

Innovative Ideas and Communication:
Students will brainstorm innovative ideas on how to effectively communicate the importance
of mandatory FOPWL on UPPs and progressively increase taxes on SSBs. They will design and plan their ideas like short videos stories on social media (Facebook, You tube, TikTok, Twitter, X/Twitter etc) with plan to increase the reach, media articles, creating community support groups, letters campaign to the policy makers or other innovative ideas etc. We encourage youth innovations and ideas to mobilizing policy support to discourage consumption on UPPs and SSBs. Innovative and scalable ideas will be awarded small grants amounting PKRs 10,000 to 50,000/ to support the implementation of their ideas with in the stipulated timelines.

Format of Submission of Idea: the idea shallbe briefly described with in maximum 500 words, clearly identifying the objectives, how it shall contribute in mobilizing the intended policy support (FOPWL, Tax), timelines to implement and plan to increase the reach or scalability.

Recognizing Excellence: To motivate and recognize outstanding contributions, PANAH will organize a “Youth Excellence Award” ceremony and give shield and mementos to students who have successfully implemented their ideas.

Submission of the Idea: The students/youthwill submit their ideas to PANAH through email: panahssb@gmail.com maximum by October 15, 2023.