WITH a large part of the country left inundated after heavy monsoon spells, it was just a matter of time before reports of widespread disease outbreaks emerged. These are now coming in from all over the country, indicating a drastic increase in cases of water- and vector-borne illnesses. Cases of gastroenteritis, dengue, malaria, diarrhoea and dysentery are on the rise everywhere; however, there appears to be no plan or strategy in place for appropriate measures to be taken to deal with the situation. Take, for example, Karachi where stagnant, disease-breeding water and broken sewerage lines, with their content exposed, are a common sight. It is no surprise that growing numbers of patients are being diagnosed with diarrhoea and dysentery in the city’s public and private hospitals on a daily basis. In fact, gastroenteritis and other stomach-related infections had already been affecting people in Karachi and its adjoining areas for some months due to the abnormal heatwave that had preceded the monsoons. Thousands of cases of dysentery are now being reported in both children and adults. Actual figures would be far higher considering that many cases would have gone undiagnosed. Unfortunately, there is little indication of the health authorities stepping up their efforts to contain the spread of infection. Diarrhoea is a major cause of death among infants and for the government to show apathy at this time will only result in young children dying of preventable or treatable illnesses.

Mosquito-borne illnesses like malaria and dengue are also on the rise. But efforts to combat this threat have been few as well. The KMC immediately needs to embark on a large-scale fumigation drive. If Karachi, Pakistan’s biggest city that contributes the largest share of national revenue, cannot even be fumigated properly then what can be said for the rest of the country where both resources and access have been decimated by the floods? Any delay in taking action in this regard is inexcusable and will only cause more hardship to the people.

Published in Dawn, August 31st, 2022