Gastro, abdominal diseases in Lahore on the rise

The cases of gastro-enteritis and abdominal diseases are on rise in the provincial metropolis mainly due to contaminated water and consumption of stale food items, as more and more cases are being reported in different hospitals of the city. According to Allama Iqbal Medical College Principal Professor Dr Javed Akram, water being used by Lahoriites is unfit for consumption, as over 60-percent Wasa tube wells are supplying contaminated water, which is spreading gastro and other diseases.
He advised the people to use only boiled water to avoid abdominal diseases. He also asked the people not to take stale food, as in the backdrop of current load shedding, the food stocked in freezers did not freeze properly, thus exposing it to contamination. It may be mentioned that hundreds of patients with symptoms of gastro and complaints of abdominal diseases had approached different hospitals for treatment.
Residents of different localities including Mozang, Bund road, Mughalpura and Multan road complained about contamination in the water supply lines of their areas. Ather Inayat Ali, a resident of Bund road said that erratic supply of water was a major cause of the problem.
"In view of load shedding, pressure is created in the pipes in the absence of water, causing sewage from the surroundings to enter the line. This contaminated water reaches the people who consume it without boiling, resulting in gastro-enteritis," he added.
Health professionals had identified consumption of contaminated water and unhygienic food as main causes of gastro-enteritis. They have stressed the need for creating awareness among the public to check spread of the disease. They were of the view that the authorities should prepare a plan to provide purified drinking water. The government must install new water pipe lines and purification plants to provide citizens with clean water, they added.
Dr Masood Sheikh, Chairman Pakistan Medical Society said the simplest way to avoid the disease was to consume boiled water while unhygienic food from markets should be avoided. He said those suffering from diarrhoea should maintain a high body water level. Sources in the Sir Ganga Ram Hospital emergency ward said the number of gastro-enteritis patients was increasing every day. He said special arrangements had been made to provide best possible treatment to the patients.