August 07, 2008	Thursday	Sha’aban 4, 1429

PESHAWAR, Aug 6: The World Health Organisation has called for strengthening the disease early warning system to overcome water-borne diseases that are feared to spread in the wake of the recent floods.

“The situation is alarming. People are staying on roadsides; 900 families of the Khurasan refugees’ camp in particular have no place to go,” said a health official, quoting WHO officials as telling the health department at a meeting held on Wednesday.

Executive district officer (health) Dr Mohammad Ali Chauhan told Dawn that they had examined 8,188 patients in the worst-hit localities of the city during the last three days and had provided them with 10,000 water purifying tablets and medicines Rs2.5 million.

“We have mobilised our doctors, nurses, paramedics and other support staff, besides making available ambulances to provide immediate treatment to the people affected by the floods,” he said.

The world health agency has provided three emergency kits for treatment of the people. One kit can cater to the health needs of 2,000 people for three months.

According to health officials, the WHO had put in place disease early warning system, but had asked the health department to further strengthen the system so that the impending epidemic could be controlled. The WHO has proposed to the health department to compile reports about patients on daily basis that would provide a clear picture about the quantum of different ailments.

However, reports from the city’s major hospitals suggest that there is no proper mechanism to provide relief to the flood-affected people. The health department, which had announced establishment of a central control room at the provincial level, has failed to do so.

Same is true for the Disaster Management Cell at the home department, which the sources said was of no use as far as relief to the people was concerned.The WHO fears outbreak of epidemics and water-borne diseases and has called for immediate measures to cope with the situation.

Meanwhile, provincial Health Minister Syed Zahir Ali Shah said efforts were being made to provide essential medicines and tents to the affected people.

The minister visited Issa Khel Topchiyan, Nasapa, Khurasan Camp and other areas where the people apprised him about the damages and their immediate requirements.

The affected people demanded provision of tents, food, potable water and medicines to prevent outbreak of diseases in the areas. The minister asked the people to be patient in these trying times and assured them that the provincial government would do its level best to provide relief to them.

Mr Shah said relief activities would be streamlined in the district to fulfil requirements of the residents and instructed officials concerned to carry out relief activities under supervision of elected representatives.

He also directed for provision of pumps to drain out water at the Khurasan camp.

WATER SHORTAGE: Residents of various flood-hit areas are facing acute water shortage and the City District Government of Peshawar has requested officials of other districts to send vehicles for supply of water in order to overcome the situation.

According to officials, lists of the worst-affected areas were prepared where water was supplied in vehicles of the city fire station. They said volunteers of different non-governmental organisations were assisting in supply of water to the needy people who had lost their houses.

Water was supplied to areas of Shahi Bala, Bacha Gul Garhi, Regi, Habib Gul Korona, Mulazi Chowk, Patwar Bala, Patwar Payan, Khandar Khel, Mathra, Khazana Sugar Mill, Char Pareza, Maskeenabad, Wapda Colony, Hassan Garhi, Qazi Kaley, Khwaja Town, Pejagi, Bhudny Bridge and the Khurasan Camp.

Sources said one vehicle each from Mardan, Nowshera and Charsadda districts and the CDMA had been provided for the purpose, but a tractor-tanker provided by Nowshera had developed a fault and could not be used.

The officials said eight vehicles were regularly supplying water, but they could not meet the demand, accusing the provincial government of not taking the issue so serious.

The tube-wells and water supply system, they said, had collapsed and the problem would remain till restoring the system.

Meanwhile, residents of areas have decided to sue officials of the City Development and Municipal Department for what they said creating hurdles in the flow of floodwater in the Regi area, which played havoc with lives and properties of the people.

The people claimed that erection of retaining walls along the nulla and the Regi Bridge had caused the destruction, adding the responsibility rested with CDMD officials because they had built the walls.

An executive engineer, Qalandar Khan, told Dawn that the area people were faced with numerous problems, including shortage of drinking water.