SUKKUR, April 28: The director-general of health services has directed all executive district officers of health in the province to take measures to prevent spread of gastroenteritis. The EDOs have also been asked to ensure availability of life-saving drugs at all health outlets. Local authorities, the directive said, should be pressed to provide safe drinking water, while health education units should motivate people to use boiled water for drinking purpose and educate them on proper disposal of animal dung, garbage and other refuses.

The DG said local administration should be pressed to place a ban on the sale of unhygienic food, ice balls and etc. He warned that EDOs would be held responsible for any slackness in this regard.

Meanwhile, after affecting over 400 people in Jacobabad, gastroenteritis and malaria were spreading in district Kashmore at Kandhkot, and had taken the lives of five children in two days. They were identified as Sughran Malik (age 6 months), Gul Khatoon (one year), Rahiman (3), Adil Malik (2) and Abdul Rahim (8).

Sources said the worst affected areas included Guddu, Kashmore, Buxapur and Budhani. Reports reaching here from these areas said that over 200 people, suffering from gastroenteritis and malaria, had been admitted to different hospitals of Guddu, Kashmore, Buxapur and Budhani during the past 48 hours. A large number of women and children were among affected people.

Dr Qasim Bhatti of Kashmore hospital said the diseases had affected several people in Guddu, Kashmore, Buxapur, Budhani and other areas.

The sources said out of about 400 people affected by gastroenteritis in Jacobabad, Siddiq Lashari died on Tuesday. Most of the victims contracted disease after consuming contaminated water being supplied in Jacobabad since last week.

The sources said water pipelines in the area had damaged and sewerage often found its way into pipelines, making water dangerous for human consumption.