944,747 fight diseases in IDP camps, 65 already lose battle

Karachi: Diseases have broken out in the makeshift camps of flood survivors of Sindh province, where as many as 944747 people are fighting various diseases and 65 others have already lost the battle, according to the government figures, while the actual number of patients and mortalities of flood survivors is much higher as millions of affected people living on roads and canal banks have yet to find a space in the overcrowded and poorly managed ‘relief camps’.

According to the official data, from July 31 to September 01, 2010 the total number of reported cases of diseases in the relief camps being run by the provincial government is 944747.

Out of these cases 944747 pertain to diarrhea, 29075 to gastroenteritis, 179504 to ARI, 102284 to malaria, 16450 to skin diseases, 3486 to heatstroke, 66633 to eye infections, and 236577 to other diseases. Moreover 320 cases of snakebite were also reported and 342 deliveries carried out

As per official figures at least 65 patients had died in the relief camps during the aforementioned period. The government says it has set up 426 permanent and 149 mobile medical camps to provide healthcare facilities to the flood survivors; however, the fact that about one million people suffer from diseases in these relief camps indicates that all is not well.

The sanitary conditions in the crowded relief camps are just pathetic, with fewer bathrooms to cater the needs of hundreds of thousands of people living in the camps. The arrangements of disposal of human waste, drainage of water, and ensuring general hygienic and sanitary conditions are poor. Majority of people are even not provided soap to clean hands after visiting toilet.

The drinking water provided to the flood survivors is generally unclean and contaminated. The hygienic requirements in preparing and serving food are being totally neglected. Houseflies and other insects are seen everywhere in the relief camps due to lack of proper cleanliness and fumigation. All these factors are contributing to the alarming rise in the number of diseases and death in the relief camps.

Meanwhile, Sindh health minister Dr Sagheer Ahmed has taken a serious note of deaths in the relief camps of Naushehro Feroze, Khaiurpur and Kashmore due to gastro and sought reports in this regard from the concerned executive district officers (EDOs) health. He has also asked the director general health Sindh to conduct a probe into the matter and file report within three days. - PPI