Another relief camp child dies

The total number of flood survivors in Sindh falling victim to various diseases has risen to 41.

KARACHI: A three-year-old girl residing at a relief camp in Razzakabad died on Saturday, bringing the total number of flood survivors in Sindh falling victim to various diseases to 41.

Sources said Farzana Lashari, who hailed from Jacobabad, was suffering from gastroenteritis and malnutrition that caused her death. Commenting on the incident, Bin Qasim Town Health Officer Younus Chandio claimed the incident did not occur at the camp.

“Two days ago, the girl was taken to the National Institute of Child Health, but her parents asked the doctor there to discharge their daughter on Saturday. She died while they were returning to the camp,” he said. Apart from waterborne diseases, malnutrition has become a major concern for children at relief camps.

Sindh Health Minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed has ordered for nutrition experts to be present at the camps so that the problem of malnutrition could be overcome. According to the provincial health department, 41 flood survivors have died of diseases in the province so far, while 689,915 are ill.

With additional input by ppi

Published in The Express Tribune, August 29^th, 2010.