18 October 2004	Monday	03 Ramazan 1425

KARACHI, Oct 17: The outbreak of diarrhoea which hit parts of Surjani Town on Saturday, claiming two lives, did not subside on Sunday as newly-affected people had to be treated at a couple of medical camps set up by the Edhi Foundation and Khidmat-i-khalq Foundation of the Muttahida Qaumi Movement.

However, there were no reports of fatalities. Faisal Malik, adviser on health to the chief minister, visited the Nek Mohammad Goth, the epicentre of the outbreak, on Sunday morning. He told Dawn that all the sick people were out of danger.

"Nine people, including some children, were seriously ill in the morning," he said. "These people were either sent to the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre or the National Institute of Child Health and are out of danger by now."

Mr Malik said he had instructed the Khidmat-i-khalq Committee to set up a camp so that free medical aid could be provided to the sick people. "This has been done and now the situation is quite better."

Answering a question, the health adviser said samples had been taken from the well and also the water mains, which would be submitted for testing at two well-known laboratories of the city. The residents of the area, he said, had been advised not to consume neither the well nor piped water.

"The health department has provided two tankers of potable water to these people." Mr Malik added that MPA Mohammad Hussein had accompanied him to the affected area.

The health secretary, Prof Noshad Sheikh, expressed similar sentiments. He added that the reports on the water samples taken from the area would be made public in a couple of days.

Rizwan Edhi said even though no one had died on Sunday, the situation was yet to come under control. "I say this on the basis of new patients which had to be treated at our camp in the village."

In response to a question, Rizwan said more than 40 new patients had been treated on Sunday. He said five water tankers had been provided to the people by his foundation.

The affected people, he said, had insisted that the Edhi Foundation remain engaged in their area so that any new crisis could be handled quickly and efficiently.

He said the area was devoid of electricity and gas and there was no healthcare facility nearby. "A Lady Health Visitor was the only local person who was busy in providing service to the people."

Meanwhile, a press release of the Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation said people were treated at their camp for diarrhoea, stomach infections, chest problems and skin disorders. "There was a great rush of patients as people stood in long queues to get medical aid," added the handout.

WATER STUDY: The Adviser to Chief Minister on Environment and Alternate Energy, Muhammad Noman Saigol, has ordered strict legal action against those responsible for human loss in Gadap Town reportedly due to contaminated water, adds APP.

The adviser, on a foreign visit, also directed the concerned authorities to collect samples of potable water from each area of the town for laboratory testing, to determine the quality and causes of its deterioration, an official source said on Sunday.

He asked the officials of his ministry to expand their campaign of testing water samples to the entire city, starting with kutchi abadis, which would help ensure quality water supply to people.

"We should first check wells, illegal hydrants and other sources supplying sub-standard water in slum areas," he emphasized.

Expressing deep grief over the deaths of people in Gadap area, he asked senior officers of the environment department to visit the aggrieved families and help them in getting proper treatment and care.