Water-borne diseases have been haunting the rural hinterlands in Balochistan due to the non-availability of clean drinking water since long as on Saturday cholera claimed two lives and infected dozens of
others in Barkhan district.
This is the second outbreak of the disease in the same district which is notorious for its poor health infrastructure and backwardness.
A health emergency was declared in the district after the outbreak was reported in remote parts of the district.
“Over a dozen patients have been admitted to the District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) so far,” District Health Officer (DHO) Abdul Hameed Lehri told The Express Tribune. He said an emergency had been declared in the district to cope with the pandemic.
“Six patients are still under treatment while the remaining patients have been discharged after treatment,” he said, adding that the affected people had consumed contaminated water.
Cholera cases are coming from Vitaki and Nahar Kot villages, the DHO said.
He maintained that medical staff and medicines had been dispatched to the area to provide timely treatment to the affected people in their own villages.
It is worth noting here that this outbreak has come 12 days after cholera claimed three lives in the same Barkhan district.
In view of emergency situation, Deputy Commissioner Barkhan, Abdullah Khoso has directed all health professionals to ensure their presence for 24 hours at the DHQ hospital.
Khosa sent a letter to the health department and other concerned quarters in the district about the emergency situation, asking them to respond in a timely manner. Balochistan Finance Minister, Sardar Abdul Rehman Kheteran has taken notice of the outbreak and directed the health department to step up efforts to tackle the situation.
Khetran who is elected from Balochistan’s Barkhan district has directed the chief secretary to ensure timely response. “Government would ensure the provision of medical facilities to the masses,” Khetran said in a statement issued to the press on Saturday afternoon.
The minister said the government was aware of the situation and will fulfill its responsibilities in an effective way. Barkhan is considered to be one of the most backward districts of Balochistan.
Cholera Pir Koh, Dera Bugti also claimed precious human lives earlier this year.
Cholera in Dir Upper
In Dir Upper around 60 cholera patients were brought to the DHQ hospital on Saturday. The outbreak was reported on Friday in several mohallas. A team of specialists doctors visited the hospital where six new wards have been established on emergency basis to deal with the health emergency.
The officials, however, failed to identify the source of the disease as water is supplied from a tributary of the Panj Kora River to the Dir city and choldera has not been reported from the entire city. This has created confusion among the doctors as usually the water supply source is chlorinated to disinfect it.
Deputy Commissioner on Saturday directed the food authority to take action against hotels and restaurants supplying unhygienic food to the masses. Around a dozens of hotels were sealed by the authorities.
“Ice blocks are brought from Bara, Khyebr tribal districts to Dir Upper and Dir Lower on a very large scale and this could also be the sources of contaminated water. Natural ices is also brought from Chitral and supplied to the district on a very large scale.
The officials should collect the water samples and send to laboratory,” said a local elder.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2022.
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