NAWABSHAH, May 7: At least 10 children have died after contracting measles in Nawabshah district during the past week, it was learnt on Wednesday.

The children, who died of the disease, included Samina, 4, Anita, 2, Saima, 3, Salma, Waheeda and Aslam. The names of four other could not be ascertained as the record registers were not available at the People’s Medical College Hospital, Nawabshah.

Measles, some observers believed, had assumed epidemic proportions with three or four cases reported on a daily basis during past two months at the PMCH.

The incidence of the disease is feared to be greater than reported in the hospital as most of the rural population living in the district do not have access to proper medical facilities.

People, contacted by this correspondent, said that quacks also treat the measles cases and thereby restricting the people from coming to government hospitals.

During a visit to the paediatrics ward of the Peoples Medical College Hospital, this correspondent learnt that the situation was far worse as it was almost impossible for a person to stand in the ward because of the unhygienic conditions there.

Dr Ali Akbar Nizamani, while confirming that measles had become quite common during the past two months, said that the main reason for its spread was lack of vaccination.

While also confirming that on an average, three to four cases of measles was reported in the hospital’s OPD, he said that exact mortality figures were not available.

Vaccination, he said, was the job of the EDO (health), which was not being carried out properly, instead, he added, seminars were being conducted on the spread of SARS virus.

Dr Tahir Kalyar, also of the paediatrics ward, said that most of the patients were from Nawabshah and Sanghar, adding that cases of encephalitis (brain) and intestinal measles had also been reported.

He said that presently, there were 10 patients admitted to the ward while most of them suffered from encephalitis measles case.

He said that 12 children, who suffered from tuberculosis, had also been admitted to the hospital’s paediatrics ward.

He lamented that the people of the rural areas usually did not come to the hospital immediately after the child suffered from the disease, adding that usually rushed to the hospitals after their situation became out of control.

Meanwhile, the people have urged the Sindh chief minister, chief secretary, Sindh, and the provincial health secretary to take immediate steps to control the situation in this regard.