IN 2018, samples of drinking water from Civil Hospital Naushahro Feroze, were sent to the Pakistan Council of Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) on the direction of Sindh water commission formed by the Sindh High Court (SHC).

The PCRWR reports found it unfit for drinking purpose. TDS (mg/1) level in water was 2,368, which should not be more than 1,000. Sulphate (mg/1) was 780 which should be 250. Potassium, sulphate, chloride and total chloroform were too numerous to count.

This is the position of drinking water kept at the main outpatient department and cardiac coronary unit (CCU).On the other hand, the water supplied to the general ward was also found impure. The hardness of this water was found to be 710, while permissible limit is 500.

TDS was 1,850 with a high level of chloride, magnesium, sulphate, potassium, sodium. The same is the position of drinking water at the dialysis centre of the civil hospital. This shows inefficiency of the health department.

More than 1,500 patients visit Civil Hospital on a daily basis. Instead of getting treatment and getting well, patients and their family members drink this impure water and become ill. The administration does not take steps to purify water for patients.

The residents of Naushahro Feroze appeal to the authorities concerned to take action on this.

Ayesha Qadeer

Naushahro Feroze

Published in Dawn, February 11th, 2019