Medical camp: 60% of 600 residents suffer from skin diseases

Residents of Surjani, Khuda ki Basti were diagnosed with allergies, infections.

KARACHI:

Many residents of low-income areas and kachchi colonies in the city’s outskirts are affected by skin infections and allergies, assessed the Rural Supporting and Development Society (RSDS) after they set up two medical camps.

The camps were set up on May 28 and May 29 in Khuda ki Basti and Surjani Town.

More than 600 patients, including women and children, visited these camps for the treatment of skin diseases.

“Almost 60 per cent of the patients attended at these camps were treated for skin diseases. The problems include infections, allergies, spots and rashes. Some of the patients were with serious conditions and never had been attended by a specialist before,” said Amir Hector Peter, the RSDS general secretary. “It was appalling to note that so many people have skin problems but they have no one to provide the cure.”

According to doctors at these camps, the unhygienic environment, dusts and insects were the causes of the skin problems.

The rise in temperature, prolonged power outages and lack of ventilation worsened the conditions.

Peter said the camps were set up after a study by the RSDS found that there are only a few clinics catering to the people of the areas. Medicines were also distributed free of charge among the patients, while many cases were recommended to Civil and Jinnah hospitals. PRESS RELEASE

Published in The Express Tribune, June 2^nd, 2011.