SHANGLA: Mosquito and water-borne diseases are on the rise in several areas of Shangla as more than 5,000 cases of malaria, typhoid and diarrhoea have been reported in Puran, Martung and Makhozi during the last one week.

Sources in health department told Dawn that tehsil headquarters hospital Puran was full to its capacity owing to admission of patients. However, the locals complained that the hospital was short of medicines.

The medical superintendent of hospital, Dr Ghafoor Khan, confirmed that the situation was out of their control as it turned into pandemic. He said that they were looking at the district health office for support and provision of medicines.

He said that more than 5,000 patients suffering from typhoid, malaria and diarrhoea were recorded in a last week at the hospital. He said that was no room for more patients in the hospital. However, he said the hospital staffers were working round the clock to treat patients.

Dr Ghafoor said that patients from other tehsils were visiting the hospital in Puran as there was no other major health facility in those areas.

Abdul Maula Khan, Puran tehsil chairman, said the number of patients was increasing with each passing day. He said that the district health officer, Shaukat Saleem, provided medicines to the hospital on Thursday but further measures should be taken to control the breakout of the diseases.

He said that authorities should send teams to the area to create awareness among people about preventive measures.

PLANTATION: The Kohistan watershed department launched a plantation campaign.

Besides watershed department staff, civil defence officials and locals took part in the campaign and planted a large number of saplings.

The drive was launched in Shang area of Bisham tehsil on Thursday. Watershed Abottabad circle conservator Kifayatullah, divisional forest officer Syed Aqil Shah, assistant director local government Amanullah, SDFO Bilal Khan, range officers Hanif Shah and Shujat Ali and other officials were present on the occasion.

The participants of the drive planted 8,000 saplings while 4,000 saplings of different species were distributed among the people.

Published in Dawn, August 19th, 2022