Sindh in grip of diarrhoea outbreak

Health practitioners say there is urgent need for raising awareness on preventing water-borne diseases

KARACHI:

Most cities in Sindh are in grip of a diarrhoea outbreak, and hundreds of people, especially children, are being brought daily to public and private hospitals for treatment.

This was disclosed by gastroenterologists affiliated with Pak Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Society (PGLDS) while addressing an event at a local hotel in Karachi on Sunday. On this occasion, the launch of the Gastroenterology Research Award in collaboration with a local pharmaceutical company was also announced. Speaking on the occasion, Prof Dr Amanullah Abbasi said that the epidemic of gastroenteritis has spread across Sindh, including Karachi, as a result of which hundreds of people are being brought to public and private hospitals daily.

There is an urgent need for research on stomach and liver diseases in Pakistan, including raising awareness on preventing water-borne diseases. The chief patron of the society, Dr Shahid Ahmed, said on the occasion that awards were being issued for research on stomach ailments in collaboration with local pharmaceutical companies.

Ten young doctors and researchers from other countries in the region, including Pakistan, will be given Rs25,000 each for good research papers. The awards will be announced at the society’s annual conference in June. Atif Iqbal, managing director of local pharmaceutical company High Q Pharma, said that his organisation was ready to provide funds for research on local diseases in Pakistan.

He further said that the import of modern technology and machines to treat other ailments, including stomach ailments, would be started soon. Dr Lubna Kamani, President of Pak Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases Society (PGLDS), said that most young doctors in Pakistan do not get the opportunity to write medical research papers due to their busy schedules and lack of funds.

She said that she was working to promote research on local diseases through the platform of Pak GI and Liver Diseases Society to help in the prevention and treatment of diseases in Pakistan. PGLDS Chief Patron Dr Shahid Ahmed, President Dr Lubna Kamani, Prof. Amanullah Abbasi, Dr Sajjad Jameel, Managing Director of High Q Pharma Atif Iqbal and Dr Nazish Butt also addressed the MOU signing ceremony