ISLAMABAD: Although the National Institute of Health (NIH) time and again issues advisories for prevention and control of Naegleria, Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) employees, their families, patients and attendants remain vulnerable to infection as the hospital lacked chlorinated water.

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis (PAM) or naegleriasis is an almost invariably fatal infection of the brain caused by a single-cell amoeba called Naegleria fowleri.

Naegleria lives in warm freshwater bodies, like lakes, pools, rivers, hot springs and soil.

The NIH issues advisories to alert public health authorities, water and sanitation agencies and other relevant stakeholders to undertake necessary steps to control it.

A doctor at Pims, requesting not to be named, said almost 10,000 patients visited the hospital on a daily basis.

Around 10,000 patients visit hospital on daily basis

“Besides, attendants accompany almost every patient so the number of people who visit the hospital reaches around 20,000 every day. Moreover thousands of employees remain in the hospital and families of a number of employees reside there. It is imperative to take measures to save people from Naegleria. Chlorinated water kills the amoeba and eliminates chances of any infection,” he said.

“However it is unfortunate that the hospital does not have the facility of chlorinated water due to which people do ablution with normal water which can be dangerous for them,” the Pims doctor said.

He said people should also be very careful during recreational activities like swimming, avoid diving and getting water up in the nose. He suggested that people should avoid water-related activities when the water is not chlorinated.

“They should empty and clean small collapsible bathing pools daily. Ensure swimming pools and spas are adequately chlorinated and well maintained. If using un-chlorinated water, do not allow water to go up the nose when bathing, showering or washing the face. Potentially contaminated water should not be used for any form of nasal irrigation or nasal lavage,” he added.

Pims spokesperson Dr Aneeza Jalil could not be contacted despite several attempts. A message was also sent to her but she did not reply till the filing of this story.

When contacted, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Health Services, Sajid Shah, said the ministry would look into it.

It is worth mentioning here that the plan of Pims was conceived in the early 60’s as the premier hospital for the capital with the objective to provide tertiary level patient care services and accept referrals. Doctors and allied health professions at all levels in the field of medicine and allied specialties, surgery and allied specialties, obstetrics/gynecology and pediatrics provide clinical services, conduct applied research in relevant specialties and develop linkages with academic institutions, national and international agencies including WHO, Unicef and Jica to provide clinical services to promote healthcare activities, research and medical education.

The hospital provides curative and diagnostic services to patients from Islamabad, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, erstwhile Fata, Gilgit-Baltistan, Kashmir and Punjab. In addition, Pims also ensures service provision to parliamentarians, government officers and judicial staff round the clock.

Published in Dawn, September 3rd, 2023