NIH cautions against spread of disease
NDMA expresses dissatisfaction over measures taken to deal with urban flooding
PHOTO: EXPRESS
ISLAMABAD:
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued a health advisory to all the authorities concerned directing them to take appropriate measures during the monsoon season in order to prevent the spread of diseases.
The advisory called upon hospital managements to make proper arrangements to manage patients and to maintain regular liaison with relevant departments.
“Rainy areas, poor and congested localities are at greater risk of having epidemics of water and food-borne infectious diseases. Water pipes supplying drinking water are usually old, rusted and damaged while sewage pipes and open sewage lanes running side by side sometimes get contaminated. The water-borne diseases attributed to the consumption of unsafe water and non-observance of proper sanitation and preventive measures may pose a serious challenge for the health and water and sanitation authorities. Such epidemics/outbreaks could however be prevented,” the advisory said.
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During monsoon season, people living in flood-prone areas are at high risk of developing diseases like malaria, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, skin/eye allergies/infections, dengue, hepatitis and many others.
Meanwhile an official on the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) while talking to The Express Tribune said, “Although, the tertiary care hospitals and healthcare centers in major cities, to some extent, have the capacity to deal with any untoward situation during and after floods, unfortunately our secondary and primary healthcare systems are weak.”
“Every year the health advisory is issued to the relevant departments during the monsoon season but hardly any measures are taken in this regard especially in remote areas or small cities,” he said.
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“Even the federal authorities have not allocated any funds for the National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Network (NHEPRN) to meet any health emergency during natural calamities,” he said.
NHEPRN functions under the federal ministry of health, and helps procure medicines and vaccines as a back-up support for the provinces to meet any health emergency
The official said that in the past mostly international donor agencies came forward to help if any untoward situation occurred.
On the other hand, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has written letters to all the departments concerned across Pakistan expressing dissatisfaction over the measures taken to deal with urban flooding.
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“The first spell of monsoon season 2017 has revealed weakness in response against urban flooding in some metropolitan areas in the country. The situation is likely to exacerbate while the monsoon season further progresses, which merits revisiting the guidelines to mitigate challenges of urban flooding,” the letter said.
The National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued a health advisory to all the authorities concerned directing them to take appropriate measures during the monsoon season in order to prevent the spread of diseases.
The advisory called upon hospital managements to make proper arrangements to manage patients and to maintain regular liaison with relevant departments.
“Rainy areas, poor and congested localities are at greater risk of having epidemics of water and food-borne infectious diseases. Water pipes supplying drinking water are usually old, rusted and damaged while sewage pipes and open sewage lanes running side by side sometimes get contaminated. The water-borne diseases attributed to the consumption of unsafe water and non-observance of proper sanitation and preventive measures may pose a serious challenge for the health and water and sanitation authorities. Such epidemics/outbreaks could however be prevented,” the advisory said.
NIH confirms Congo virus in three K-P residents
During monsoon season, people living in flood-prone areas are at high risk of developing diseases like malaria, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, skin/eye allergies/infections, dengue, hepatitis and many others.
Meanwhile an official on the Ministry of National Health Services, Regulation and Coordination (NHSRC) while talking to The Express Tribune said, “Although, the tertiary care hospitals and healthcare centers in major cities, to some extent, have the capacity to deal with any untoward situation during and after floods, unfortunately our secondary and primary healthcare systems are weak.”
“Every year the health advisory is issued to the relevant departments during the monsoon season but hardly any measures are taken in this regard especially in remote areas or small cities,” he said.
Mysterious disease in Karak: Doctors struggling to identify virus which claimed five lives
“Even the federal authorities have not allocated any funds for the National Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Network (NHEPRN) to meet any health emergency during natural calamities,” he said.
NHEPRN functions under the federal ministry of health, and helps procure medicines and vaccines as a back-up support for the provinces to meet any health emergency
The official said that in the past mostly international donor agencies came forward to help if any untoward situation occurred.
On the other hand, National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has written letters to all the departments concerned across Pakistan expressing dissatisfaction over the measures taken to deal with urban flooding.
Health budget gets 25% boost
“The first spell of monsoon season 2017 has revealed weakness in response against urban flooding in some metropolitan areas in the country. The situation is likely to exacerbate while the monsoon season further progresses, which merits revisiting the guidelines to mitigate challenges of urban flooding,” the letter said.