Most of Karachi Lack Supply of Chlorinated Water

KARACHI: It has come to attention that, many water samples collected from various parts of Karachi by Sindh Health Department showed that, most parts of the city are receiving inadequate chlorinated water.

Sindh Health Department has constituted a six-member focal group, to formulate strategies for controlling the spread of Naegleria Fowleri.

The representatives of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, Human Resources Department Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Health Education Officer, Director Health Office Karachi, Assistant Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department, Karachi and Executive Engineer of District Council, Karachi, constitute the focal group.

After sample collection from across Karachi, it was found that water being supplied to North Karachi, Gulshan e Iqbal, Gulistan e Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, Orangi Town and its associated areas were not chlorinated. However, chlorination situation in Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society(PECHS), Mehmoodabad, Landhi, Korangi and its adjoining areas were satisfactory.

Convener, Focal Group to Control Naegleria Fowler, Dr.  Syed Zafar Mehdi,  stated that, water samples collected from different  parts of the city were sent for testing to laboratories, were found non satisfactorily chlorinated. He explained that, 50 per cent areas of city are receiving water without chlorination.

Chlorination of water is considered to be the only cure against the spread of the deadly Naegleria Fowleri disease and other water borne diseases.  He added that, recommendations have been sent to the concerned authorities of KMC for chlorination of water.

Dr. Zafar Mehdi mentioned that, Naegleria Prevention Centre at COD Filtration Plant near Bait- ul Mukarram Mosque, Gulshan e Iqbal, is where meetings are regularly being held to devise strategies for chlorination of water.

Up till now, 2 people from Karachi, including a young girl died due to Naegleria Fowleri, the brain-eating amoeba that enters through a person's nose and consumes brain tissue.

About 99.99 percent Naegleria Fowleri patients died, as there is no cure against this disease. Citizens must adopt preventive measures to protect themselves. The over-head & underground water tanks, ponds, swimming pools and all other water reservoirs should be chlorinated in summer season to avoid this disease.