The number of cholera patients rose to 2,000 in Zhob district of Balochistan on Saturday as there is no end in sight to the waterborne disease across the province despite all the claims of government.
“Over 200 serious patients are still admitted to District Headquarters Hospital”, District Health Officer (DHO) Zhob Syed Muzaffar Shah told The Express Tribune.
Cholera outbreak has hit people living in Ganj Muhala, Kharotabad and Sheikhan Muhala. So far cholera has claimed three lives in the district. Two children and a woman have died of the disease, Dr Muzaffar Shah said.
An emergency has also been declared in the DHQ hospital to provide timely treatment to patients.
“We have dispatched medicines to Zhob and other affected areas to deal with the situation”, Saleh Muhammad Nasar, the Secretary Health Balochistan said.
Khuzdar outbreak
Cholera outbreak has also claimed three lives in Wadh Tehsil of Khuzdar district. Over 100 patients were admitted to Wadh hospital after the outbreak, Dr Asad Jan Mengal, the Medical Superintendent of Wadh hospital said.
He said that most of the patients are women and children.
Secretary Health Saleh Muhammad Nasar revealed that major reason behind the outbreak of cholera and diarrhea was recent flash floods as clean drinking water was not available.
“In Zhob, sewerage water has mixed with leaking water supply pipes after heavy rainfall,” the secretary said, adding that most of the patients were suffering from diarrhoea not cholera.
“Today I am leaving for Zhob to assess the situation,” Nasar informed. Cholera outbreak has already claimed precious human lives in Barkhan, Dera Bugti and Kohlu districts of Balochistan.
Health officials in Zhob, Kohlu and Wadh have complained about the lack of medicines.
They have demanded of the health department and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to send medicines and doctors to deal with the situation.
“We want medicines as an influx patients is expected”, a doctor of Zhob hospital told The Express Tribune.
In Kohlu, 250 patients of gastric disease were admitted in the District Headquarters Hospital.
“Most of the patients have been discharged after treatment”, Dr Asghar Marri, the Medical Superintendent of Kohlu Hospital said.
He however demanded of the provincial government to provide medicines to enable them properly handle the situation.
Published in The Express Tribune, July 17th, 2022.
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