KARACHI, Sept 4: As a consequence of the worst environmental disaster in the country’s history, the incidence of eye and chest ailments in the coastal areas has risen considerably.

So said some doctors who talked to Dawn on Thursday evening at a medical camp set up by the Karachi Port Trust. The doctors working at the camp from 8am to 8pm daily have also been complaining of itching in the eyes, shortness of breath and headache.

Dr Nasiruddin, Dr Saleem Shaikh Ayaz, Dr Imrana Rafique and Dr Mohan Lal, who work for the KPT, told this reporter that the residents of the coastal areas who were predisposed to allergies and certain chest complications such as asthma were particularly affected by the oil spill from the ill-fated vessel Tasman Spirit.

In response to a question, they said during the last three days a total of 650 people had visited their medical camp. “Among the people who visited us were residents as well as people who work in and around Seaview Township,” one of them told this reporter.

The doctors said complaints of nausea and anxiety were common among the people visiting the camp.

They claimed that no suppression in the blood cell and bone marrow counts had been noticed in the pathological reports issued by their laboratory staff.

“Look, what we do is simple. If a patient who comes to us needs only medicines, we give them medicines. But the patients who we think require further examination are examined closely by our lab people.

“It follows then that we get many blood and urine samples tested. According to these pathological reports, the blood cell and marrow counts are within normal ranges.”

The four doctors said they were currently not in a position to say by how much the incidence of the ailments regularly complained of had increased. “This is a question we cannot answer right now. But we are creating a separate file for each patient.

“Later on, we will derive epidemiological data from these files which will be scrutinized by our experts, including Dr Maqbool Arshad who is a senior pulmonologist.”

A young man named Mohammad Irfan, who was being examined by Dr Mohan Lal, said he was suffering from dust allergy. He told the doctor that since the oil spill he was forced to use inhalers up to four times a day.

“As I told you, I am an old patient of an allergy. But before the oil spill I used to use the inhaler only once or twice a month. But since the spill, I am forced to use it several times each day.”

Dr Mohan Lal, using a spyrometer, tested the efficiency of Mr Irfan’s lungs. After carrying out a couple of tests, he said the efficiency of Mr Irfan’s lungs was 70 per cent.

“This shows that you are suffering from mild complications of the chest.” He advised Mr Irfan to continue inhaling the medicines prescribed by his chest physician.