KARACHI: Extensive cleaning of coastal areas proposed
KARACHI, Sept 2: The committee comprising the experts of World Health Organization and Ministry of Health, assigned to undertake Rapid Health Impact Assessment in oil affected areas, has recommended extensive cleaning of the areas.
The experts said that the crude oil contained substances, which were highly toxic and could manifest their adverse effects after even decade or more with ghastly results.
Maintaining to have no illusions regarding the enormity about the operation clean-up initiated at the site, the committee observed that this if not adequately undertaken could lead to a scenario where subsequent costs would be quite enormous both in economic and human terms.
It was observed that since general public had no access to the area it could facilitate the process and rid the beaches of the pollution, otherwise carried out over decades.
While registering that components of crude oil comprise benzene and hydrocarbons (both cancer producing carcinogens) the committee suggested that general public should be educated on scientific lines as to the potential hazards of visiting the coastal areas.
The committee stressed on the need to observe the affected persons over an adequate period of time, as often the impact was evident after passage of considerable period of time.
Regarding the medical camps established in the concerned localities and the primary health care outlets functioning there, it was recommended that all visiting patients should be referred to tertiary care institutions with referral cards so that they could be properly examined.
The list of investigations may include complete blood count, liver function tests, urea, creatinine and level of hydrocarbons in the blood followed by routine urine examination including urinary phenols.
It was also submitted that air, water, soil and dead fish samples should also be examined properly from the appropriate institutions like the PCSIR, IUCN-Pakistan and Aga Khan Hospital to assess the level of toxins in the environment.
The committee also proposed to discontinue altogether the use of seafood as chicken feed to offset the possibility of dead fish being provided to the chicken, which was bound to have adverse effects on chicken and resultantly humans also.
Since the oil spillage is likely to engulf the tube-wells located in Port Qasim area, it was observed that examination of water sample be carried out to ensure that there was no contamination, which could have ominous effects in a short period of time. The federal ministry of health, WHO and other UN partners may also facilitate the development of guidelines, standard operating procedure and training of health care providers, including paramedics and personnel of the municipal agencies in handling such emergencies so that recurrence of such episode could be prevented.
As a long-term suggestion, it was submitted that the WHO could finance an ongoing prospective study over a long period of time to determine the long term effects of the incident on the residents living close to the affected areas.
The committee is being headed by Director Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre Prof Kazi Abdul Shakoor. Other members of the committee include Director Central Health Establishment Dr Muhammad Zakaria, National Coordinator Chemical Safety Prof Jamal Ara, Dermatologist Dr Sabina, Chest Physician Dr Nadeem Rizvi, Ophthalmologist Dr Mahmud Saeed, Public Health Expert Dr Seemin Jamali, WHO Technical Officer for Environment Dr Amir Elahi Johri, and WHO Operations Officer for Sindh Dr Ghulam Nabi Kazi. The committee was also assisted by WHO Medical Emergency Officer Dr Quaid Saeed, and Clinical Topologist Dr Turabi.—APP
