Waterborne diseases, specially gastro, typhoid and skin ailments, are on the rise in Karachi, particularly its slum areas, said Dr Khuwaja Salman. Examining patients in a free medical camp held by Jamaat-e-Islami UC-12 Gulshan-e-Iqbal chapter at Muhammad Khan Goth in collaboration with Al-Khidmat, he said use of contaminated water is spreading diseases amongst Karachiites.
He said elderly people and children with weak immune system are major affectees of the waterborne diseases. He said in poor slum areas children are generally malnourished and prone to catching infections.
Dr Khuwaja said people should use boiled water and avoid eating rotten fruits and vegetables to get rid of the waterborne diseases. He said mosquitoes and houseflies also spread diseases and improvement of sanitary conditions in the slum areas is another must.
Imran Rao, Nazim JI UC-12 Gulshan Iqbal said they regularly hold free medical camps in Goths and slum areas, where proper medical facilities at the governmental level are not available. He said growing environmental pollution and supply of contaminated water through tankers are playing havoc with peoples' health.
Mumtaz Aalam of Al-Khidmat said some 250 patients were examined in the medical camp at Muhammad Khan Goth. He said a male and female doctor examined the patients and supplied them medicine. He said poor slum areas need such medical camps on regular basis. He said the civil society is playing its part to provide medical facilities to the poor, but they could not meet this gigantic task. He said it is the responsibilities of the government health department to open more dispensaries and healthcare centres in these ignored areas.
Sultan Saeed of Muhammad Khan Goth said he was thankful to Al-Khidmat for holding this one-day free medical camp at his village. He said the majority of population in area belongs to poor working class and they can not afford visiting private clinics and doctors.
Sikander Ali Dhamra belonging to nearby Sachal Goth said the prices of medicines and fees of doctors have gone beyond the reach of the common man.