September 21, 2003	Sunday	Rajab 23, 1424

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MIRPURKHAS, Sept 20: A medical team from Islamabad has termed the rise in malaria cases in the district alarming and expressed dissatisfaction over preventive measures taken by health authorities.

The team that visited Mirpurkhas after the district government sent a letter to the World Health Organization representative in Islamabad, stressing the need for taking measures on emergency basis against the disease.

The team, including the director general for malaria, Dr Arif Muneer; deputy project director, malaria, Dr Mohammad Ahmad Qazi; director, Sindh malaria control, Dr Muzaffar Abbasi; and Dr Mohammad Ali Khalifa, visited different villages, including Khan, Machi Goth, Turk Ali Mari, Shadi Palli, Pithoro, and Shah Mardan Shah.

It also inspected measures taken against the spread of malaria.

District government representative Dr Ghazi Khan Mari told journalists that the team observed that stagnant sewage water and insanitary conditions were the main causes for the outbreak of the disease.

Earlier, the team members met District Nazim Pir Shafqat Hussain Shah Jilani.

The Nazim told the doctors that there was a need to implement WHO recommendations in the district as malaria had emerged as major health problem and it was the time to strengthen the monitoring system which was lacking at different levels.

He suggested that to overcome the situation, one supervisor should be posted at every union council.

He said some important posts in the health department were also lying vacant.

The Nazim said public awareness and health education programmes should be launched through electronic media.