After dengue, malaria grips Balochistan
A patient suffering from dengue fever sits under a mosquito net inside a dengue and malaria ward at the Sindh Government Services Hospital in Karachi September 21, 2022. PHOTO: REUTERS
Around 2,434 malaria cases have been reported from six districts of Balochistan over the past 24 hours, reflecting a sudden spurt in the spread of vector-borne disease in the province.
The outbreak risks escalating into an epidemic in the flood-ravaged region already struggling to cope with dengue, if corrective interventions are not made soon.
Thousands of cases have surfaced in Nasirabad, Jafarabad, Sohbatpur, Jhal Magsi, Sibi, and Kachi, Dr Waseem Baig, Health Department Balochistan’s Media Coordinator, said on Wednesday.
He added that these flood-hit districts have already experienced widespread destruction.
The provincial government has established 1,621 medical camps in the affected districts.
As per the data shared by the health department, 2,434 malaria cases were reported in a single day in the Naseerabad Division.
In order to cope with the situation, the government established 18 more medical camps in 24 hours.
Officials said that a total of 494,633 patients have been treated in the medical camps so far.
Waterborne diseases and skin infections are rampant in the flood affected areas of Balochistan.
These camps have treated 6,877 patients over the last 24 hours. Among the 6,877 patients, 543 were cholera cases, 1,205 asthma cases, 723 skin infections, 470 gastro, 2,434 malaria, 174 eye infections, 178 typhoid, and 1,150 patients were of other diseases.
“We are in need of urgent help from the federal government to ramp up medical interventions and save precious lives in Balochistan,” a senior health officer told The Express Tribune.
He requested anonymity since he was not authorized to speak to the media.
After floods, the province is faced with vector-borne and waterborne diseases. The provincial government is providing health facilities on an emergency basis to the stricken areas to check the spread of infections.
“Ensuring the availability of medicines and timely treatment to patients is our first priority,” Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo said.
He chaired a high level meeting which reviewed the pace of relief activities in the flood-hit areas of the province.
The floods affected over 700 basic health units (BHU) and regional health centers (RHC) in Balochistan.
Of these 700, most buildings of the BHUs and RHUs are completely destroyed and could not be used.
“Most of the patients are referred to other provinces for treatment because of the lack of space at the hospitals,” a local social worker in Naseerabad said. Many people in the affected areas of Balochistan are homeless and living under the open sky, which is the main reason behind the rapid increase in malaria and dengue cases, he added.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 6th, 2022.