THATTA: Seven members of a family died of cerebral malaria and as many other people died of gastroenteritis at the taluka hospital in Jherruck over the last few days, it emerged on Tuesday.

According to hospital sources, an increasing number of patients from different villages had been arriving here for treatment of water-borne and other diseases since the accumulation of rain and flood waters in the coastal areas. Among them were many members of a peasant family headed by Jumman Bukero who were taken to the hospital one after the other over the last week with symptoms of cerebral malaria.

Bukero’s wife, Ms Hakeema, daughter

Ms Nooran, a nephew, Mr Nawaz, two granddaughters Mehran and Suraiyya, a grandson, Zahid, and Mr Nawaz’s daughter, Gulzar, died during treatment.

Their deaths were recorded on different dates.

Gastroenteritis also claimed seven lives in Arbab Malook village during the last few days.

The deceased included three women — Ms Chagi, Ms Sakeena and Ms Kareema — a man, Jan Mohammed, and a boy, Uris Jhirko. The names of two other victims could not be ascertained immediately.

Deputy Commissioner Ghazanfar Ali Qadri, taking notice of the situation, dispatched two medical teams headed by DHO Mohammad Hanif

Memon to the area. Senior doctors and paramedics accompanied him while an ambulance was put on their disposal.

Meanwhile, the health department taking action on a report filed by civil surgeon at the district headquarters hospital in Makli Dr Mohammad Hassan Gandhro, has issued show-cause notices to a number of specialists over their alleged indifferent attitude towards their duties.

The report claimed that they were found irregular in discharging their duties at the hospital.

Published in Dawn, September 21st, 2022