A MICROBIOLOGIST is a scientist who studies not only pathogenic micro-organisms but also those which are beneficial for us.

Microbiologists in developed countries are placed almost in every organisation like hospitals, pharmaceutical companies, municipalities, pathological labs, food and mineral water industries, as well as in government research organisations like biological warfare.

They work in hospitals to provide a sterilised environment suitable for operations and patient health. In pharmaceutical companies they work to supervise the preparation of various drugs, to check whether the drug is safe for humans or it is contaminated with pathogenic micro-organisms and the preparation of antibiotics.

In municipalities they work to provide safe environment and to check the water supply whether it is safe for drinking or contaminated.

In pathological labs they help doctors to carry out a proper diagnosis. In food and mineral water companies their work is to check food and water to see whether these are safe for human health or not. In government organisations they work to secure the nation from bioterrorism.

But in Pakistan most of these organisations work without microbiologists.

This is the reason that many people are affected by different types of diseases like cancer, hepatitis, Aids, TB, polio, malaria, dengue fever, cholera and many more waterborne, airborne and food-borne diseases.

Recently we saw deaths of many patients due to drug reaction and dengue fever in Punjab. A microbiologist can be helpful in these situations.

Students are also not opting for microbiology in universities because of there being little scope for this important field in our country.

The government should take notice of this and take action to place microbiologists in these sectors for the safe health of people.

S. R. KATHIO Khairpur Mirs