Unhygienic practices: In 35 days, diarrhoea takes 12 lives in Sindh

Over 19,000 people afflicted with the waterborne disease have been hospitalised.

HYDERABAD:

Twelve people, most of them children, have lost their lives to the deadly diarrhoea in the last 35 days in Sindh, while over 19,000 others afflicted with the waterborne disease have been hospitalised.

According to the statistics collected by the office of Health Director General (DG), a total of 100,768 cases have been reported since mid-May at the government hospitals in the province.

As many as 19,057 people suffering from the disease have been admitted to the hospitals. However, the figures are exclusive of the cases reported at the private clinics and hospitals. “These cases include a large number of children. Most of those who died were also children,” the Health DG Dr Ashfaq Ahmed Memon told The Express Tribune.



The largest number of deaths have occurred in Badin, where five people lost their lives battling the gastrointestinal infection. Two each died in Jamshoro and Tharparkar districts, while one each in Sanghar, Sukkur and Khairpur districts.

The highest occurence of the disease has been reported in Hyderabad, where 18,895 patients were diagnosed and treated for diarrhoea, while 1,318 were admitted till June 20. The government hospitals treated 9,098 patients in Karachi, in Badin 8,519, in Tando Muhammad Khan 8,271, in Tando Allahyar 6,383, in Thatta 6,376, and in Dadu 5,596, among other districts.

Interestingly, not a single patient suffering from the waterborne disease visited any government hospital in Kashmore and Shikarpur districts.

Dr Memon said the health department had been able to control the disease by providing timely treatment to the patients and by keeping the mortality rate low. “The death rate and the cases of hospitalisation are lower than the previous years,” he claimed. This is despite the fact that the figures still appear massive.

In Badin, 2,924 people infected with the condition were admitted to the hospital since mid-May. Similarly, 2,210 were hospitalised in Umerkot, 1,559 in Thatta, 1,145 in Matiari, 1,142 in Ghotki, 1,110 in Tando Allahyar and 1,032 in Dadu followed by other districts.



The DG told that more than 70,000 packets of oral rehydration solution (ORS) have been distributed at hospitals.

The illness mostly accompanies the sweltering summer heat and it is aggravated by the lack of hygiene practices, drinking of unclean water and eating food which upsets the gastrointestinal system.

Unfortunately, Dr Memon said the doctors can only treat a patient who reports a medical condition. “Factors like water, food, unhygienic conditions and a lack of awareness about keeping oneself hydrated in the summer contribute to this illness. It is for the government and the society to work in unison for the adoption of preventive measures.”

Last year, the Expanded Program on Immunization and the Global Alliance for Vaccines and Immunization at a meeting in Islamabad made recommendations for immunisation of children against diarrhoea. But the proposal could not make headway due to a lack of response from the provincial governments.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 22^nd, 2013.