PESHAWAR: Doctors have been urging people to spread awareness regarding hygiene among the internally displaced persons (IDPs) so they could take safety measures against a host of avoidable ailments.

This was stated by Fata health services director Dr Pervez Kamal Khan during his visit to free mobile hospitals set up at the government high schools of Boo Karam Garhi, Mamoondkhel, Mangla Mela and Sarikhel areas for the displaced population of North Waziristan Agency.

He said that the mobile medical camps would continue to function in the areas hosting the displaced people. “It is important that the people care for hygiene and protect themselves against diseases. The people should wash hands before and after meal and use clean drinking water to avoid food and water-borne ailments,” he said.

Dr Niaz Afridi, manager of the Fata mobile hospitals, said that they had examined 994 patients, many of whom suffered from gastroenteritis and diarrhoea. On this occasion, 174 children were examined while 134 others underwent different diagnostic tests.

He said that 12 mobile hospitals had been catering to the health needs of the displaced people. He said that the mobile hospitals had also been tasked to administer oral polio vaccine to the children.

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2014