With the onset of summer medical experts fear the spread of waterborne diseases in Karachi, especially its slum areas due to the supply of contaminated water, as cases of gastro-enteritis have already on a rising trend in the city.
Gastro-enteritis causes of 0.7 million deaths, including 0.25 million deaths of children, in Pakistan each year, experts say, adding the use of contaminated water is termed the chief cause of this disease. In past years, the sharp rise in gastro-enteritis was seen in the city, as authorities had failed to supply clean potable water to various localities.
Medical experts told PPI that majority of Karachiites had to consume polluted water due to which cases of waterborne diseases were on the rise. They urged that people should take initiatives themselves and use only boiled water.
"Gastro patients used to report to hospitals of Karachi in the beginning of April each year. In June and July the cases hit peak level," said Professor Inkisar Ali, Head of the Department of Child Health in Dow University of Health Sciences, and President of Child Health Association.
He told that 0.25 million children die due to gastro-enteritis each year but our government had failed to take serious preventive steps yet.
"Some 20 to 25 children, suffering from gastro, are reporting to hospitals daily and in the children hospitals like National Institute of Child Health (NICH) this figure is about 30 to 35 daily. Many of these patients are discharged after giving basic treatment," he said.
Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK) Dr Kaleem Butt said that the contamination of water is the main cause of the disease. He said there were many causes of water contamination such as mixing of chemical and industrial waste and gutter water in lines of potable water.
"Government as well as people should keep an eye on these factors and try to remove them", he said. Ex-Deputy Director of National Institute of Child Health (NICH) Dr S M Afaq told that 0.7 million people die each year due to gastro-enteritis. We can eradicate this disease by use of clean and boiled water, he added.
Mostly people are affected by gastro-enteritis, typhoid, hepatitis and other diseases due to consumption of contaminated water, medical experts added.
ORS should be used in case of loose motions. Breastfeeding is best way to save babies from such type of diseases, they said.
A survey of different hospitals of the city showed that last week, 78 children suffering from waterborne diseases were reported at the NICH, 97 patients reported at the JPMC, 86 at the Civil Hospital, and 68 at the Abbasi Shaheed Hospital. As far as private hospitals are concerned in Agha Khan Hospital 13 patients, Chiniot Hospital 42 patients and in Liaquat National Hospital 24 patients are reported during last three days.
Majority of these patients belong to Landhi, Korangi, Orangi and Lyari areas. The areas that are badly affected due to use of contaminated water. It may be recalled that two years ago 22 people had died due to use of contaminated water in Landhi. It has been reported that a woman in Nusrat Colony Korangi Industrial Area, had died of gastro. Arif Khan Advocate, Nazim Korangi Town, when contacted said that the death of woman was not due to use of contaminated water. "We are, however, taking steps to raise awareness amongst residents of our town about the use of boiled water," he said.
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