04 June 2004	Friday	15 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

HYDERABAD, June 3: At least 165 more patients suffering from diarrhoea have been admitted to various government-run hospitals during the past 24 hours and the number of deaths by water-borne diseases rose to 27 , states a report submitted by the provincial director-general health to the health secretary.

The latest report, which was submitted on Thursday, said the total number of patients in the six government hospitals in Hyderabad and the taluka hospital in Kotri was reported to be 3,324. Of the total, 16 deaths had occurred in the Liaquat University Hospital, 10 in the Shah Bhittai hospital and one in taluka hospital in Kotri, the report added.

Meanwhile, the provincial health services department on Thursday ordered all government-run and private hospitals to control the diarrhoea epidemic presently affecting Hyderabad and other parts of the province.

These orders were issued by Sindh Health Services' Director- General Dr Hussain Bux Memon under instructions from the provincial Health Minister Naeem Ishtiaq.

All hospitals have been strictly told not to use certain antibiotics, like co-trimazole, ampicillin and nalidixic acid, for case management while encouraging the use of others like doxycycline or ciprofloxacin besides initiating dehydration therapy (ORS or intravenous liquid replacement), depending on the severity of the diarrhoea.

Stressing the need for effective purification and chlorination of water, the director-general health services called for regular monitoring (both chemical and bacteriological) of the quality of drinking water.

He also urged re-activation of the health department's 'Disease Early Warning System' to ensure immediate case reporting at all health facilities. He said an operational room should be established at Liaquat Medical Centre where the epidemic's trend and its applied control interventions should be regularly monitored.

Dr Memon also stressed the need for launching a public health education campaign in the affected areas, encouraging the people to use boiled water besides washing fruits and vegetables before use.

RELEASE DEMANDED: Office-bearers of the Zeal Pak Cement Factory Employees Union (CBA) have demanded that general secretary of the union, Mushtaq Qadri, should be released.