KARACHI : Health crisis persists in coastal villages
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Oct 9: Hundreds of people in the coastal villages are awaiting government intervention against malaria, which has clearly reached epidemic proportions claiming five lives over three weeks in Deh Allah Bano, UC Gabopat of Keamari Town.
The Pakistan Fisherfolk Forum (PFF) has urged the government to make arrangements for an ambulance service and set up medical camps on an emergency basis in these villages. A PFF representative Surriya Talpur alleged that due to half-hearted government efforts the situation in Deh Allah Bano, comprising 16 villages, had not improved.
She deplored that some ill-equipped medical teams had been sent to a few villages. “In some instances, the doctors did not even have stethoscopes or thermometers,” she said.
Ms Talpur said that a large number of villages including children had been suffering from malaria but could not afford to travel all the way to the city for necessary medical attention on their own.
She urged the relevant authorities to establish day-long medical camps and launch an effective fumigation drive in these villages.
Deputy Town Health Officer Dr Sun Mukh Daultani said that medical teams had visited six villages, including Haji Noor Mohammad, Daulat Faqir, Haji Mohammad and Hussaini, of Dah Bano and people had been provided with free medicines.
“We have collected blood samples from the affected people and sent them to a government laboratory in Shershah for diagnosis. The reports will be available in two days,” he said.
Explaining the problems in effectively addressing the issue, Town Health Officer Dr Nazeer Ahmed Kolachi said that out of the total 22 dispensaries in Keamari Town, the government had improved the SNE (Schedule for New Expenditure) of only seven.
Due to the very reason, the budget and staff sanctioned for these seven dispensaries had to be distributed among the rest thus resulting in the closure of six units, he added.
Acknowledging the need for a fumigation drive in the coastal villages, he expressed the hope that the situation would improve as the EDO (health) had been informed about the current situation.
