Water-borne diseases reported in rain-hit Sindh towns

After the fresh late-monsoon spell, scores of waterborne diseases, particularly gastro-enteritis, diarrhea and malaria were being reported at various private and government-run hospitals of Jacobabd, Sukkur, Khairpur Mir's, Ghotki, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Larkana, Business Recorder learnt on Tuesday.
The fresh monsoon spell in many districts including Jacobabad, Sukkur, Khairpur Mir's, Ghotki, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Larkana has raised the spread of waterborne diseases, particularly diarrhea, and gastro-enteritis besides malaria and jaundice as there are chances of gutter water's mixing with potable water because of leaking pipelines and overflowing gutters, sources inside the health department said.
Gastro-enteritis or stomach flu is a viral or bacterial infection, caused by a number of viruses and bacteria that grow manifold during or after rains and the symptoms include diarrhea, vomiting and nausea with abdominal cramps. Unhygienic drinking water is one of the major causes of the disease in the said areas, they said. It is worth mentioning here that more than 3000 rain-affected people (men, women and children) suffering from gastro-enteritis were reported in the last couple of days from Jacobabad, Sukkur, Kahmore-Kandhkot and other areas at government-run hospitals and relief camp clinics, they said.
Many of them were shifted to Civil Hospital Sukkur while many others were shifted to government-run hospitals of Larkana and Hyderabad, sources said. After rains, the stagnant water becomes highly polluted with different chemicals and causes various skin and eye diseases. The children should avoid playing in accumulated rainwater and parents should keep them away from rainwater puddles, they informed.
The health experts have strongly advised people to use only boiled water and avoid outdoor meals, especially during the rainy season. A majority of areas in the province received contaminated water and such incidents had occurred in the past as well, they added.
When contacted, Haleem Adil Shaikh Advisor to the Chief Minister for the Relief department told Business Recorder that he and his team were visiting the rain-affected areas on a daily basis and helping people in all kinds of difficulties facing after the heavy rains.
Admitting the inefficiency of the health department, he said that the health department had failed to provide urgent medical relief to the people of rain-affected areas, adding that he had registered his complaint to the Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah in this regard as well. He appealed to the health department to come forward and help the innocent people of the rain-affected areas as they could be saved from killer waterborne diseases.