KARACHI, June 27: After the recent spell of heavy rains in Karachi, the danger of an outbreak of waterborne diseases, especially gastroenteritis, looms large as overflowing gutters and the accumulation of stagnant rainwater has increased the risks of mixing sewage with drinking water.

The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi has expressed the fear that if preventive steps are not taken on a war footing, the city might face an outbreak of gastroenteritis and other waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, hepatitis A and E, besides eye and skin diseases.

Due to the unprecedented power outages which have lasted more than two days in some localities thanks to the dismal performance of the Karachi Electricity Supply Corporation, both the water supply and sewage disposal systems have been badly affected. Some low-lying areas, especially in Saddar and Lyari Towns, are still under ankle-deep gutter water.

The supply of clean water has been affected in most areas and in some areas people have complained of being supplied foul-smelling water. Incidents of mixing sewage with water supply lines in the city have been reported in the past, especially in the Landhi/Korangi areas.

Karachi PMA General-Secretary Dr Qaiser Sajjad told PPI on Tuesday that a rising trend in cases of waterborne diseases had already been witnessed in some hospitals and if the city government and health department did not take notice of the situation, the possibility of an outbreak of waterborne diseases, especially gastro, could not be ruled out.

He said the spread of waterborne diseases was normal after rains in third world countries, but now governments even in less developed countries were giving serious attention to the issue. He said that the provision of clean drinking water and removal of stagnant gutter-mixed rainwater was the primary responsibility of the government. He said that after the criminal negligence towards the killer hoardings, it would be another folly to ignore the threat of waterborne diseases in Karachi.

He noted that though the situation was relatively good this year as compared to last year, a lot of areas were still inundated and without emergency efforts the situation could not improve. He said that children were the most vulnerable to these diseases due to their weak immunity.

He said that the authorities should also keep the possible danger of malaria and dengue fever in mind, as mosquitoes bred in large numbers following rains. He said the experience of last year’s dengue fever outbreak should be utilised so that preventative steps are taken this year.

Dr Sajjad urged the provincial and city governments to launch an aggressive drive to pump out accumulated rain and gutter water from roads, streets, playgrounds and open spaces.—PPI