Centre, Sindh govt failed in Karachi: PMA

Experts point out hazards of polluted rainwater mixed with sewage

KARACHI, PAKISTAN:

Expressing concern over the grave situation in the city after monsoon rains, the Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) claimed that the federal and provincial governments had failed everywhere in the city.

The office bearers and senior members of PMA held a meeting on Wednesday, where PMA secretary-general Dr SM Qaisar Sajjad pointed out that the same situation occurred almost every year in Karachi, but nothing was being done.

"Time will pass, the innocent citizens killed in [rain-related incidents] and their damaged properties will be forgotten," he decried.

He further expressed the fear of transmission of numerous waterborne diseases, infectious diseases and diseases spread by mosquitoes and flies.

Due to the poor infrastructure, rainwater mixed with sewage water had flooded many areas and damaged people's properties, he said, adding that Karachi had struggled with multiple civic issues for many decades.

"Around 30,000 tonnes of garbage in the city was not picked up for a long time, while there is no proper system for the disposal of hospital waste," stated Dr Sajjad. "This garbage is being burned within the residential areas causing serious health hazards," he said, adding that the rainwater polluted with garbage remained accumulated on the streets for days, putting citizens' health at risk.

He further claimed that pollution in the city was increasing with the passage of each day and the authorities had no strategy to curb it.

"People are forced to drink polluted water mixed with sewage, which is causing waterborne diseases like typhoid, gastroenteritis, hepatitis A and E, conjunctivitis, skin diseases and cholera," he stated, elaborating that due to the lack of hygiene, flies and mosquitoes were proliferating and causing malaria, dengue, chikungunya and other diseases.

The PMA further criticised the government for its failure to improve the state of public hospitals and establish a new cancer facility in the city.

They also addressed the problem of noise pollution, caused due to the honking of vehicles and generators running for prolonged durations amid power outages. "These can ultimately cause impaired hearing, irritability, high blood pressure, cardiac problems, diabetes mellitus and other health complications," they explained.

They added that the PMA had long been raising its voice and demanding that the government resolve the megacity's issues, but nobody accepted ownership of the city. "Politicians have done nothing to improve the situation, but only good governance and the collective efforts of all stakeholders can resolve these problems, rather than just a single political party," they added.