May 09, 2008	Friday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 3, 1429

VEHARI, May 8: As many as 135 gastroenteritis patients were reportedly brought to various state-run hospitals in the district within the last 48 hours, amid public complaints of water contamination in some areas and lack of required medicines at the health facilities.

The areas worst affected by the disease include Karampur, 9-11/WB, Peoples Colony, Muslim Town, College Town, Mailsi suberbs, Masani Bagh, Garah More, Tibba Sultanpur, Luddan, Machiwal and Thingi Colony, where dozens of gastro cases were reported, most of them children.

The state-run facilities catering to the medical needs of the people in the district include a DHQ hospital, two THQ hospitals and 13 Rural Health Centres (RHCs). Patients admitted to these facilities complained that they were not being looked after properly and had to purchase medicines from the market.

A doctor at the DHQ hospital said requesting anonymity that about two dozen children suffering from gastro were being brought to the facility daily.

A private practitioner, Dr Tariq, of 9-11/WB, said about 40 gastro patients were brought to his clinic.

Residents of the affected areas alleged that neither TMAs, nor the district government took measures to provide potable water to them despite repeated complaints.

Some residents of union council No 1, 9-11/WB, said they were getting contaminated supply as sewage had seeped into underground water pipes in various parts of the locality. They alleged the TMA’s sanitary staff had failed to trace the spots where the contamination was being caused.

The TMA officials said the underground water supply lines had outlived there utility and were damaged at various spots causing contamination.

A group of people from Thingi Colony (rural area) said the underground water had long been declared unfit for drinking purposes, but neither health department nor the TMA had taken any step to rectify the situation.

DHQ hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Shahid Saleem admitted that various hospitals had received `some’ gastro cases but denied any casualty.

According to the hospital sources, the MS had informed the ministry of health of 112 gastro patients, majority of them children, admitted to various state-run hospitals in the district during the last 48 hours.

The people of affected areas appealed to the government high-ups to look into the situation. They also demanded free-of-cost medicines.