Public awareness: ‘Monsoon-related illnesses preventable’

He urged the authorities to ensure immediate dismantling of billboards, particularly those on high-rise buildings

KARACHI: The Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) has urged the authorities to promptly announce a preventive strategy to help citizens avoid any weather-related emergency situation during the upcoming monsoon. “I will, through the platform of the PMA, urge the authorities to ensure immediate dismantling of billboards, particularly those on high-rise buildings,” said PMA central leader Dr Qaiser Sajjad. He said the risk of waterborne disease will persist  therefore public service messages should be communicated through the media about how to preempt ailments ranging from malaria to diarrhea, dysentery, gastro-enteritis to eye and skin infections. “All these conditions are preventable, provided people continue to receive clean water,” he said. Dr Sajjad said that it was also high time that government healthcare facilities across the country are provided with adequate storage of medicines needed to manage monsoon-related health conditions.

Published in The Express Tribune, July 4^th, 2015.