KARACHI: Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) feels deeply grieved over the deaths of 17 children in Dadu due to gastroenteritis.
These ill-fated children were from rain-hit areas of Kachho and Manchhar Lake, where gastroenteritis breakout.
As per PMA, it is very distressing that these innocent children died of a preventable and treatable infection because of our weak health delivery system. We have been raising our voice for the improvement of our health delivery system and spending more on the preventive side rather than the curative side. We have been demanding the provision of clean water to all citizens to eliminate water-borne diseases like typhoid, gastroenteritis, Hepatitis A, E, and Cholera.
This is entirely the responsibility of the government to provide primary health facilities to the people, particularly in the flood-affected areas, because the flood-affected people are facing multiple problems. Government should provide them with food and tents for temporary shelter and immediately start working on their rehabilitation.
PMA requested the general public to adopt the following preventive measures during this rainy season to avoid different diseases, particularly water-borne diseases. The precautions for water-born diseases: always drink boiled water. Ensure water is not accumulated around your house. If there is accumulated water around your home, then spray Kerosene oil on this water. Use clean water to brush your teeth. Use clean water to prepare food and wash utensils, vegetables, and fruits. Keep your food covered to avoid any contamination. Flies are the primary source of gastroenteritis. Take preventive measures to prevent mosquito bites because Dengue Hemorrhagic fever cases are increasing these days. Flies are the primary source of gastroenteritis. Wash your hands with soap and clean water before eating, cooking, feeding children, and after using the toilet. Make sure that your children also wash their hands in the same way. Do not allow your children to play in rainy water or stationary water around. If possible, avoid eating food out these days. If your child, particularly the small child, is having non-stop diarrhoea/vomiting, immediately take him to your doctor.
Due to heavy rains, deep cracks have developed on the roads. The holes of the sewerage are seen uncovered. Due to this awful situation, PMA requested motorbike riders and drivers to avoid travelling on rods covered with rainy water.