Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://thepost.com.pk/IsbNewsT.aspx?dtlid=164960&catid=17
Malaria cases likely to rise
Nazia Hameed
ISLAMABAD: Hours-long load-shedding is not only proving detrimental to economic growth but also posing serious health hazards as it may give rise to malaria and dengue fever cases, health experts said.
According to the health expert, when there is a power shutdown 70 percent people in the country sleep in open areas during nights exposing themselves to the lethal diseases. Only 20 percent of the total population had access to malaria treatment, they added.
He said 60 percent people did not take proper preventive measures and become the victim of malaria or dengue fever," said health officials.
Health officials told The Post if energy crisis continued in the country there were high chances of enhanced malaria cases in the rural areas and dengue fever cases in urban areas.
They said most cases of malaria were detected in Balochistan followed by Sindh. They said in 2007 about 128,000 cases of malaria were reported in the country and the number was likely to increase this year.
Unfortunately the data on the number of malaria cases detected in the country is not collected at government level which is a big hurdle in tackling the disease, said health officials.
Immediate preventive measures should be taken by the government to control spread of both the fevers.
The government should also start and awareness campaign among the masses regarding control and treatment of these viral diseases.
Malaria cases likely to rise
Nazia Hameed
ISLAMABAD: Hours-long load-shedding is not only proving detrimental to economic growth but also posing serious health hazards as it may give rise to malaria and dengue fever cases, health experts said.
According to the health expert, when there is a power shutdown 70 percent people in the country sleep in open areas during nights exposing themselves to the lethal diseases. Only 20 percent of the total population had access to malaria treatment, they added.
He said 60 percent people did not take proper preventive measures and become the victim of malaria or dengue fever," said health officials.
Health officials told The Post if energy crisis continued in the country there were high chances of enhanced malaria cases in the rural areas and dengue fever cases in urban areas.
They said most cases of malaria were detected in Balochistan followed by Sindh. They said in 2007 about 128,000 cases of malaria were reported in the country and the number was likely to increase this year.
Unfortunately the data on the number of malaria cases detected in the country is not collected at government level which is a big hurdle in tackling the disease, said health officials.
Immediate preventive measures should be taken by the government to control spread of both the fevers.
The government should also start and awareness campaign among the masses regarding control and treatment of these viral diseases.