Gastroenteritis cases multiplying in Sibi

At least 70 patients are reported at hospitals in the flood affected area daily.

QUETTA: Gastroenteritis is rapidly spreading in Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali where at least 70 patients are reported at hospitals daily.

Three wards have been allocated in the Civil Hospital Sibi for children suffering from gastroenteritis, Medical Superintendent (MS) Ghulam Sarwar Hashmi said.

There are very few government hospitals functioning in Sibi and Dera Murad Jamali, while all hospitals have been closed in Jaffarabad following the floods.  Hashmi said that a large number of floods victims have come to the hospital and most of them are children.

“There is a shortage of doctors and medicines, which is why water-borne diseases are spreading fast,” he said, adding that two deaths have been reported in Sibi since the floods entered Balochistan.

“I do not know how many children have died of gastro enteritis but I have seen two cases of death,” he maintained.

Hashmi said that they have asked the provincial Health Department for more medicines because it was very difficult to cope with the situation after 250,000 have taken shelter in Sibi. Meanwhile, Secretary Health Jalal Khan said there was not a single case in his knowledge where children had died of gastro enteritis.

However, he said there are a number of affected-people suffering from gastro enteritis and other diseases in Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali and adjoining areas. “Gastro enteritis and other diseases are limited to relief camps, among the victims of the floods,” Khan said. He added that the cities are safe so far.

About shortage of doctors, the secretary health said the government hospitals are situated at an eight kilometres distance from relief camps in Sibi, Dera Murad Jamali, Quetta and other districts. “So there is not need to establish a medical camp,” he said. In hospitals patients get proper treatment and facilities. In relief camp there is no power and water supply. Then how can a patient recover?” Khan asked.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 22^nd, 2010.