ONE of the dreams of mankind is to be disease-free. Its importance has never been felt more poignantly the way it has been in these coronavirus-hit times.

Karachi, like all metropolises in the world, over the years has had to grapple with one ailment or another (as was mentioned about smallpox last week). On Feb 26, 1971 the media reported with a fair degree of trepidation that measles — an infectious disease with fever, blotchy rash catarrh of mucus membrane — had assumed epidemic proportions in the city. It had already claimed 25 lives in the past two months.

The increased mortality among the measles cases at the Epidemic Disease Hospital was attributed to the severe complications developed by almost all the patients who were admitted to the hospital. A majority of them had laryngitis – inflammation of the larynx.

That was not the only health issue that got the media’s attention. In those days, an Anti-Leprosy exhibition was under way at the New Town Girls Secondary School under the auspices of the Pakistan Leprosy Relief Association as a school social work project to raise awareness of the disease and to allay the age-old prejudices related to it. On Feb 23, it was claimed that hundreds of students had already visited the exhibition held with the help of models, charts, posters, slides and through talks given by experts on the subject. Isn’t that a good idea to organise such shows at the school level?

Another worthwhile idea is to enable citizens to appreciate nature’s munificence. On Feb 26, the 21st four-day annual flower, fruit and vegetable show was inaugurated by the Governor of Sindh, Lt-Gen Rakhman Gul. Inspired by the beauty and fragrance all around, the governor acknowledged the virtues of flowers which he likened to the smiles on the faces of human beings. Addressing those who had gathered on the occasion, he said not only did flowers have a universal language they also carried a universal message of happiness, peace, harmony and affection. “If only we fully imbibe the message, we will, I’m sure, make our sojourn on this planet very happy and pleasant.”

Happiness and convenience go hand in hand. Speaking of convenience, on Feb 24, residents of Bhit Island reminded the Karachi Municipal Corporation (KMC) of the construction of Rs1.5 million jetty at the island which was proposed to be built three years ago. They pointed out that all the survey work had been completed by the KMC and in July of the previous year they were assured that work would begin shortly — so far nothing had been done. Without a jetty, the fishermen of the area had to go through deep waters to board boats which were causing them to contract different kinds of skin diseases.

Another social concern that reared its head that week was that on Feb 27 supporters of a drug seller in a fight with the law enforcers attacked the police with iron rods and brickbats in the heart of the city’s red light area. Three constables and a number of other people were hospitalised. The Napier police on Feb 26 had received a piece of information that a man was selling contraband charas and opium at a hotel on Japani Road. An anti-drug excise squad raided the neighbourhood and caught him red-handed. As the police were leaving with him, a group of men attacked them.

Published in Dawn, February 22nd, 2021