ID :
202207
Thu, 08/18/2011 - 18:58
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http://m.oananews.org//node/202207
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Medical experts fear malaria outbreak in Sindh
Karachi, August 18, 2011 (PPI): After the recent torrential rains in many parts of Sindh, the chances of a malaria epidemic have significantly increased, whereas the allocated budget for Provincial Malaria Control Program for calendar year 2011-12 was yet to be released, causing severe problems for the program in its efforts to check malaria onslaught in the province, here on Thursday.
According to the medical experts, malaria should be controlled before it turns in to an epidemic. President Infection Control Society, Director Dow Laboratories and Assistant Professor Dow University of Health Sciences Dr Rafique Khanani says the chances of malaria and dengue spreading in the rain-hit areas of Sindh have drastically increased due to the accumulated rainwater in the flooded areas. The government should increase its pace to drain the stagnant rainwater, besides providing mosquito nets and medicines to the patients. He said that accumulated stagnant water amplifies the growth of mosquitoes which increases the possibility of dengue, malaria and other vector diseases.
Rafique Khanani said that the unavailability of statistics in the country regarding the affected people by malaria is heartrending whereas treatment of this disease is also very expensive. He said that Dow University laboratory and other governmental laboratories are reporting about 40 new cases of malaria everyday which is alarming whereas the situation could reach epidemic level in interior Sindh if not controlled promptly. He said that only 3% people have immunity to fight the disease without taking any medication but in normal circumstances if a patient is not treated it may even result in death. Special attention must be given to high risk targets such as children, elderly people and pregnant women.
General Secretary Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Dr Muhammad Ismail Memon said that PMA medical team including family physicians and gynecologists with necessary medicines would visit the affected area in forthcoming days. He said that several diseases are nurtured in the standing rainwater including Hepatitis A and E and if an epidemic of these diseases breaks out in the rain hit areas then it would be hard to control.
On the other hand, Director General Health Sindh Dr Hafeez-ul-Haq said that Relief and Medical camps were immediately established whereas several teams of doctors have been deployed in the rain-hit region. He said that doctors are available 24/7, while no outbreak of any disease has so far been reported.
To a question, Director General Health said that no casualty from malariea has been reported thus far meanwhile all affected people are being provided medical aid.
Manager Provincial Malaria Control Program Dr Naheed Jamali said that six thousand cases of malaria have been reported in the ongoing year, which she considered normal. She said that the patients have been provided with free medicines whereas no casualty has so far been reported. The concerned EDOs Health have been directed that they must ensure anti-bacterial spray campaign in their region. She said that the budget allocated for the ongoing year has not been released but they are managing with the budget of erstwhile year. She said that pregnant women and children are being provided with mosquito nets akin to the floods of the previous years.
According to the medical experts, malaria should be controlled before it turns in to an epidemic. President Infection Control Society, Director Dow Laboratories and Assistant Professor Dow University of Health Sciences Dr Rafique Khanani says the chances of malaria and dengue spreading in the rain-hit areas of Sindh have drastically increased due to the accumulated rainwater in the flooded areas. The government should increase its pace to drain the stagnant rainwater, besides providing mosquito nets and medicines to the patients. He said that accumulated stagnant water amplifies the growth of mosquitoes which increases the possibility of dengue, malaria and other vector diseases.
Rafique Khanani said that the unavailability of statistics in the country regarding the affected people by malaria is heartrending whereas treatment of this disease is also very expensive. He said that Dow University laboratory and other governmental laboratories are reporting about 40 new cases of malaria everyday which is alarming whereas the situation could reach epidemic level in interior Sindh if not controlled promptly. He said that only 3% people have immunity to fight the disease without taking any medication but in normal circumstances if a patient is not treated it may even result in death. Special attention must be given to high risk targets such as children, elderly people and pregnant women.
General Secretary Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Karachi Dr Muhammad Ismail Memon said that PMA medical team including family physicians and gynecologists with necessary medicines would visit the affected area in forthcoming days. He said that several diseases are nurtured in the standing rainwater including Hepatitis A and E and if an epidemic of these diseases breaks out in the rain hit areas then it would be hard to control.
On the other hand, Director General Health Sindh Dr Hafeez-ul-Haq said that Relief and Medical camps were immediately established whereas several teams of doctors have been deployed in the rain-hit region. He said that doctors are available 24/7, while no outbreak of any disease has so far been reported.
To a question, Director General Health said that no casualty from malariea has been reported thus far meanwhile all affected people are being provided medical aid.
Manager Provincial Malaria Control Program Dr Naheed Jamali said that six thousand cases of malaria have been reported in the ongoing year, which she considered normal. She said that the patients have been provided with free medicines whereas no casualty has so far been reported. The concerned EDOs Health have been directed that they must ensure anti-bacterial spray campaign in their region. She said that the budget allocated for the ongoing year has not been released but they are managing with the budget of erstwhile year. She said that pregnant women and children are being provided with mosquito nets akin to the floods of the previous years.
