QUETTA: Four malaria-related deaths were reported in the Usta Muhammad area of Jafferabad district on Wednesday as thousands of other people, mostly children, were suffering from malaria, diarrhoea and other waterborne diseases in all the four districts of Nasirabad division.

The Commander of 12 Corps, Lt Gen Asif Ghafoor, visited Usta Muhammad along with the chief secretary and other officials in view of the grim situation in the area.

Health authorities in Nasirabad confirmed malaria was spreading fast in the four districts. The floodwater inundated fields and towns, destroying hundreds of houses and rendering thousands of people homeless.

Although health officials did not confirm the death of four people due to malaria, acting Governor Mir Jan Muhammad Khan Jamali, who belongs to Jafferabad district, said: “Four deaths occurred in flood-hit areas of Usta Muhammad sub-division of Jafferabad.”

He said the situation in flood-hit areas was worsening with the passage of time as standing floodwater was not receding and it was causing massive destruction and spreading waterborne diseases.

“Children are mostly affected by malaria and diarrhoea,” he told Dawn, adding that shortage of malaria and diarrhoea medicines was also reported in these areas.

The government, the army and FC have established medical camps and are providing treatment to the people suffering from these diseases, he said.

Health officials said that a large number of people were visiting hospitals and medical camps on a daily basis.

Published in Dawn, September 22nd, 2022