Marchers health woes: CDA told to improve sanitation facilities

Due to poor sanitation, there is a risk of outbreak of water-borne diseases.

ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) administration has requested that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) health department improve sanitation-related facilities and the quality of drinking water for marchers.

Talking to The Express Tribune, Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto (SZAB) Medical University, Pims Vice-Chancellor Prof Javed Akram said on Friday that he had a meeting with the CDA health directorate head in which he had requested improvements on both fronts.

“Due to unhygienic conditions and poor sanitation, there is a risk of water-borne diseases such as hepatitis, typhoid, gastroenteritis, and polio among marchers, which in turn could further affect the residents of the capital.”

He said the hospital has treated 320 marchers for the flu, sore throats, chest infections, gastroenteritis and other minor illnesses.

He said that he has also asked the CDA health directorate to provide face masks, soap and hand sanitiser to help prevent them from contracting diseases and to continue chlorination of drinking water.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 23^rd, 2014.