PESHAWAR:
Respiratory infections have become more common than any other disease in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, said the second quarterly report issued by the District Health Information System (DHIS).
It further said that facilities in government hospitals have worsened.
The report, based on 25 districts, was released here on Tuesday by DHIS Provincial Programme Manager Dr Javed Pervaiz.
The data was collected from the number of patients visiting the Outdoor Patient Department (OPD).
Majority of the patients visiting OPD have acute respiratory infection. However, the number has dropped to 33% from 45% in the last quarter, with asthma being the most severe form of the infection. The figures are expected to increase further in the coming months.
The facilities at government hospitals to deal with the growing number of patients are meagre and inhalers are not available.
The number of patients suffering from diarrhoea has also had a 5% increase. Currently 22% patients visiting OPDs have diarrhoea. Meanwhile, patients with neonatal tetanus have remained constant at around 600.
Another disease reported to have increased is dysentery, which rose from 62% to 67%.
Dental diseases rose by 1% in the last quarter as a total of 85,941 such cases were reported. The report suggested that dental treatments must be made more accessible to the public.
Snake bite cases increased from 97 to 245 across the province with the arrival of the summer season.
It was also reported that anti-snake bite serum in district headquarters hospitals is unavailable.
Sexually transmitted diseases have registered an increase, with 2,392: 396 more patients than in the last quarter.
The report urged for surveillance, training and other provisions to control diseases.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 3rd, 2012.
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