HARIPUR, Nov 26: Speakers at a seminar pointed out that lack of public amenities and civic and medical facilities were sereous problems with highly detrimental effects on people's health.

The seminar was held to identify health problems faced by people living in urban areas. The event was organized by the Sungi Development Foundation. Councillors, representatives of agencies, NGOs and social workers attended the seminar.

Councillor Naseem Akhtar said that lack of awareness about healthcare, improper sanitation system and contaminated water were the major contributing factors in spreading diseases.

She suggested that paving streets and sewerage lines, quarterly use of phenolphthalein in water tanks, use of manure for crops and disposal of solid waste of the self-help basis at the Mohallah level could halve health-related problems.

Other speakers held toxic industrial effluents, poisonous emissions from factories and vehicles and unchecked deforestation responsible for exposing people to various health problems.

They underscored the need of increasing the number of community health workers and awareness campaign across the district with joint efforts by the government agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Manzoor Yousuf of Barani area project said that his organization had planned to carryout awareness programs at 36 points in the remote areas of the district. Likewise, for encouraging use of manure rather than fertilizer, the Barani Area Project was imparting training to farmers, he added.

About the shortage of health staff in far flung areas, Mr Yousuf said that a working women hostel was also being built in Hairpur. He offered to invest in the public latrines if space and facilitation was provided by the communities or any NGO.

Omer Javed Khan of Sungi and Community Development EDO Dr Fazal Mehmood also addressed the gathering. Earlier, the participants did group work to list major health problems faced by the people, identify causes and suggest solution.