20 gastro patients admitted to hospitals over 24 hours

Health officials advise people to consume hygienic food

RAHIM YAR KHAN: Several patients, including a large number of children suffering from gastro-related ailments, were admitted to hospitals in Rahim Yar Khan. At least 20 people suffering from gastroenteritis were admitted to different health facilities over 24 hours.

Those admitted to hospitals included five-year-old Ibrar Ali, 25-year-old Rafique Ahmed, 18-year-old Iqra Hameed, 60-year-old Irshad Ahmed, 20-year-old Rubina, seven-year-old Barkat Ali and others.

A health official, requesting anonymity, told Express News that the sharp increase in temperature has caused an increasing number of gastro cases across different parts of the city. He added facilities in government hospitals have fallen short as a result of the influx of the increasing number of patients.

“To make matters worse, the statistics compiled by the provincial headquarter did not include figures of those patients who are visiting private hospitals, clinics and health centres in large numbers,” a health department official said.

He added that if their data was included, the number of patients might be higher than the current figures.”

Meanwhile, doctors at the hospital said that the consumption of unhygienic food, drinks and contaminated water were major causes of such infectious diseases. They said the majority of patients fall victim to these ailments due to the extreme heat and use of contaminated water.

They advised people to take precautions and avoid the intake of unhealthy food items and drinks.

The health department’s official record reveals that at least 193,117 patients suffered from gastro during 2017. All the patients were admitted to government-run hospitals in Faisalabad, Lahore, Multan, Bahawalpur, Chakwal, Gujranwala, Hafizabad, Jhelum, Kasur, Khanewal, Layyah, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Okara, Pakpattan, Sahiwal, Sargodha, Sheikhupra, Toba Tek Singh, Vehari, Bhakkar, Chiniot, Dera Ghazi Khan, Jhang, Lodran Mianwali, Muzaffargarh, Nankana Sahib and other cities.

The highest number of patients suffering from the disease was reported in Lahore followed by DG Khan, Sheikhupura, Multan, Bahawalpur and Faisalabad.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 16^th, 2018.