SWABI: Residents of various flood-hit villages in Swabi district have urged the health department to take prompt measures to prevent outbreak of waterborne diseases.

Some low-lying villages are still submerged in floodwater as the district administration has not yet taken steps for draining the standing rainwater.

The most affected areas include Marghuz, Bangladesh Banda, Kaddi, Kotha, Tand Koi, Darra, Topi, Baja, Bamkhel, Yar Hussain, Kaya, Beka, Jalbai, Jalsai, Tordher, Sheikh Dheri and Kunda.

In Tand Koi village, rainwater standing in fields adjacent to the Zaida-Topi Road can serve as a breeding ground for pathogens that result in diarrhea and other waterborne infections.

A former district health officer told Dawn that stagnant water could cause malaria, dengue, hepatitis, cholera and dysentery. He said there was also serious threat of skin diseases and eye infections.

A doctor at a government hospital said there was grave danger of dengue outbreak in the flood-affected areas.

Medical experts demanded that the district health department ran an awareness campaign to educate people about the waterborne diseases. They said the district administration with the support of Rescue 1122 should drain out the standing water from villages to prevent outbreak of diseases.

District public health coordinator Dr Khalid Amin told Dawn that they had established a medical camp each in Bangladesh Banda and Marghuz villages to deal with any emergency.

However, locals said medical camps should also be set up in other flood-hit villages.

SEMINAR: Speakers at a function on Friday called for practical steps to control the unbridled increase in population, which was becoming a burden on the country’ feeble economy.

The seminar was organised by the population welfare department.

Later, a walk was also arranged to educate people about far-reaching impact of population increase on coming generations.

Women also participated in the walk.

SHOT DEAD: A man was killed by his brother over a dispute on the boundary wall of their house in Rashakai village on Friday.

The Kalu Khan police registered an FIR against the suspected killer, Tauheed Khan, on the report the widow of the deceased, Sajid Ali.

Published in Dawn, July 16th, 2022