September 10, 2003	Wednesday	Rajab 12, 1424

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ISLAMABAD, Sept 9: There is no threat of outbreak of epidemics like malaria and cholera in the flood-hit areas of Tharparker, Badin and Thatta, parliamentary secretary for health Ms Raheela Yahya Munawar told the National Assembly on Tuesday.

In reply to a calling attention notice of Dr Ghulam Hyder Samejo, she said the government had taken adequate measures in the flood-affected areas of Sindh and Balochistan that included monitoring and provision of medicines worth Rs12.5 million and insecticides amounting to Rs22,000. These medicines have been supplied in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO) and assistance from Germany.

Dr Samejo had called the attention of the government to the outbreak of different epidemics due to recent floods and rains in Tharparker, Badin and Thatta.

Fourteen cases of cholera, he said, had so far been reported in Badin and urged upon the government for an aerial spray to control the situation.

He also questioned the statement of the parliamentary secretary that these medicines had reached Tharparker, Badin and Thatta.

The parliamentary secretary explaining her statement said the medicines were handed over to the chief ministers of Sindh and Balochistan and the provincial governments were responsible for the distribution of these medicines among the victims of rains and floods.

Ms Munawar also told the assembly that seven diagnostic centres had been set up by the government in different areas of Sindh and Balochistan while mobile health teams were also monitoring the situation in those areas.

Dr Samejo also contested this statement saying that no such mobile teams had reached the affected areas and no diagnostic centres had been established there.

The parliamentary secretary brushed aside the impression that the floods had created an alarming situation in the area and assured that the federal government with the help of provincial governments had deployed mobile units to keep a complete vigil.

She informed that an urgent meeting of the malaria control department held recently had developed guidelines to meet the situation.