24 May 2004	Monday	04 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

HYDERABAD, May 23: The death toll from gastroenteritis, reportedly caused by consumption of contaminated water from the Indus river, has risen to seven in Sindh after the death of an elderly woman and a boy.

Speaking at a press conference at the Civil Hospital here on Sunday, the medical superintendent of Bhitai Hospital, Ghulam Nabi Memon, said that the boy, Sehri, suffering from gastroenteritis, had been brought dead to the hospital.

The 70-year-old woman, Imam zadi, a resident of Lalu Lashari Goth, died of the same problems at the Civil Hospital on Saturday evening. The medical superintendent, however, claimed that the woman had died at her home, as she had already been discharged from the hospital after treatment.

Residents of Lalu Lashari Goth, led by Qasimabad Action Committee leaders however, took to the streets and burnt tyres to protest against the death which they said was caused by consumption of contaminated water. They said that the woman had died at the Civil Hospital while being administered an intravenous drip.

They also said that around 15 persons, including a woman councillor, were suffering from acute gastroenteritis. Sindh Health Minister Naeem Ishtiaq said at a press conference that 1,412 gastroenteritis cases had been reported at five government-run and two private hospitals in the eight days from May 15 to May 22.

He said the Sindh governor and the chief minister had announced Rs100,000 compensation for the family of each gastroenteritis victim. The minister claimed that the situation had improved as there had been a drop in the number of patients being admitted during the last 24 hours. The emergency stations would nevertheless continue, he added.