Sindh has seen an outbreak of diarrhea and dysentery in recent as more than 181,000 cases have been reported so far this year. Health practitioners attribute the surge in cases to contaminated water sources in the province.
As per official figures, there have been 78,518 cases of diarrhea, along with 26,232 cases of dysentery among children under the age of five in the past three months. Moreover, there have been 76,336 diarrhea cases among those older than five years. Three cases of cholera have been documented during this period.
Karachi's main government-run hospitals, Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) and Civil Hospital, witness a daily influx of 25 to 30 patients suffering from diarrhea, cholera, and dysentery. This number continues to rise, with some patients presenting critical conditions due to severe dehydration.
Dr Irfan Siddiqui, the morning shift in-charge at JPMC, told The Express Tribune that the Accident and Emergency Department has recorded 1,910 cases of diarrhea and dysentery, with some unfortunate fatalities occurring despite medical intervention. He stressed the escalating prevalence of these cases, citing contaminated water and substandard food as primary contributors.
Dr Siddiqui also highlighted the heightened vulnerability of young children under five during the summer season and stressed the importance of consuming boiled water and maintaining a nourishing diet.
Microbiologist Dr Sadaf Akbar underlined the critical role of purified water in sustaining human health. Consumption of contaminated water poses significant risks, including the onset of diarrhea, cholera, hepatitis, and other potentially life-threatening illnesses.
Dr Sadaf said that gastrointestinal diseases are particularly prevalent in rural and suburban areas lacking adequate water purification systems, such as certain parts of Karachi. She stressed the imperative of boiling and filtering water before use, citing patient responses indicating a widespread neglect of this precautionary measure.
As cases of cholera and diarrhea escalate during the summer, Dr Sadaf cautioned against the consumption of untreated ice, beverages from unhygienic stalls, and water from tanker supplies, all of which pose serious health hazards if not properly treated.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 23rd, 2024.
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