KARACHI: Government officials and experts at a seminar on Wednesday were unanimous in their opinion that the chlorination level in the water being supplied to the city residents was unsatisfactory, hindering efforts for saving human lives from the lethal diseases of dengue, naegleria fowleri and Congo-Crimean hemorrhagic fever (CCHF).

“I admit the chlorination is still compromised in Karachi. The city’s 40 to 50 per cent areas are not being supplied satisfactorily chlorinated water,” said Dr Zafar Ijaz, director of health services, Karachi division, in his speech at the seminar organised by the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi on its premises.

He said since the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board was primarily responsible to supply tap water, it should ensure that the water should be properly chlorinated before being supplied. It was the only solution to saving lives from falling victim to the naegleria attack, he said.

He said the city recorded two cases of CCHF, of which one victim died while another – a young man – survived and had been discharged by the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre.

He asked people to contribute to efforts for saving lives and preventing diseases that could be stopped through simple precautionary measures.

Karachi Commissioner Shoaib Ahmed Siddiqui who presided over the programme said his office had facilitated all the departments with regard to viral and vector diseases last year and would continue to do it.

“All of us should contribute to efforts against these diseases. We have to resolve that we will never succumb to these diseases,” he added.

Dr Shakeel Mullick of the dengue control and prevention programme said a total of 541 dengue cases had been reported from Sindh so far this year out of which 527 were reported from Karachi only.

He said that even perfume could attract dengue mosquitoes during summer days, which were more prone to dengue bites for warmer climate.

Aslam Pechuho, an additional secretary in the health department, said the situation with regard to combating the viral and vector diseases was not encouraging.

He said the KWSB must have some financial problems at it was given just Rs10 million per month for chlorinating all the water supplied to the city.

Published in Dawn, September 18th, 2014