DADU, May 7: The slum areas of district Dadu are abound with various diseases such as measles, whooping cough, malaria, diarrhoea, bronchitis, tuberculosis and skin ailments.

The number of patients are on the rise owing to the apathy of the district health department, Dadu.

The local government officials, including the Nazims, allege that the officials of the Health Department have failed to provide necessary medical facilities for the locals of the area.

According to a survey, these diseases are spreading among the poor people of the western part of three Talukas of Dadu district — Johi, Khairpur Nathan Shah and Mehar.

Not a single team of doctors has visited the hundreds of affected villages. The villagers complained that officials and doctors of the health department have not provided medicines, and a large number of people are on the move in search of better facilities.

The Naib Nazim of Union Council Chhinni, Imdad Ali Shahani said that around 5000 people of his union council were suffering from various infectious diseases.

He said that though various multinational companies as well as the government had provided necessary medicines to the Health Department, Dadu, but the local health officials have failed to visit the affected persons.

Councillor Jangoo Khan of village Jangwani Pat Kanheri, Johi, said that all underground water reservoirs of his area have dried up, and the situation has led to furthering of diseases.

He said that a majority of six villages, including Pir Lakhair, Safi Thalho, Gurandi, Machhko, Beerah and Dhounk, were infected with skin disease.

The Nazim of Union Council Sawaro, Ghulam Mustafa Rodhnani Johi said that owing to biting of Sand Fly, around 1000 people have been infected with leishmaniasis in village Goloo Faqir, Haji Mithal Rodhnani and Haji Lal Bux Rodhnani.

He said that the health department had not carried out spray in the area to kill the parasite.

Sources said that the health officials had sold the medicines to private medical stores, and were not paying any attention in the remote areas of the district.

However, Medical Superintendent Taluka Hospital, Khairpur Nathan Shah, Dr Khadim Hussain Lakhair said that around 2000 people of various parts of Taluka Khairpur Nathan Shah had visited the hospital till to this day, and claimed that they have been provided with medical care.