Mysterious disease hits three union councils

A mysterious disease has hit the Bin Qasim Town's three Union Councils (UCs) Landhi, Ibrahim Hyderi and Rehri Goth, (a coastal village of Bin Qasim Town in the suburbs of Karachi). It was learnt that more than 200 children from 5 to 15 years have fallen prey to this mysterious disease.
A visit to Ibrahim Hyderi and Rehri Goth on Tuesday shows the miserable condition of the local residents. More than 200 children were found affected by the mysterious disease, which first affects the lower limb then mental ability. It was also learnt that this disease was prevalent for almost two years but nothing was being done by the authorities concerned in this regard.
Rehri Goth has 17 mohallas and 50 lanes, which are mostly filled up with sewerage water and garbage. The sewerage of Korangi Creek and Korangi Industrial areas is also being dumped into the sea water and the open sewerage lines are passing through Rehri Goth. Worst of all water lines are passing just beside the nullah. Basic necessities of lives like potable water, proper sewerage lines and streetlights are far fetched dreams in Rehri Goth.
According to a detailed survey conducted by the Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF), from the seven UCs of Bin Qasim Town three UCs Landhi, Hyderi and Rehri Goth has more than 5,000 crippled men, women and children.
According to another organisation HANDs survey 2,249 are in Rehri Goth, 1,286 are in Hyderi and 1,602 are in Landhi. The reason of this calamity according to HANDs is poverty and nonavailability of clean potable water.
On the directives of Dr Sagheer Ahmed Minister of Health a 15-day health camp has been set here. More than 2,000 patients have been checked and the result of their findings shows that 800 are physically disabled, 660 have dangerous weak eyesight, 327 are deaf and 116 are epilepsy patients.
According to the doctors the disease is not communicable. It is prevalent in 5-18 years age group and seems to be genetic in nature because of marriages amongst close relatives are quite common in the area.