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KARACHI: Dr. Azra Fazal Pechuho, Minister of Health, told the Sindh Assembly Wednesday that the drug-resistant "superbug" epidemic, first identified in Hyderabad in 2016, is now spreading in some parts of the world. of Karachi because of the contamination of the water.
The Minister made these remarks while making a statement and answering questions from legislators at the Provincial Assembly Question Time.
Dr. Pechuho explained the provincial government's efforts to control the epidemic, stating that 116,000 children aged six months to 10 years had been vaccinated until October 2018, while a training plan for mbad vaccination had been completed for Karachi. She added that the mbad vaccination plan for other parts of the province was also underway.
The minister said the province had planned to import conjugate vaccine for four million children and that the case was ongoing with the federal government and the Pakistan Drug Regulatory Authority. .
"Naegleria has no cure and can only be prevented by chlorination of water"
She added that a tentative plan had been approved for the continuation of mbad vaccination against typhoid and that it would be launched this year.
The minister said the vaccine would be integrated with routine immunization after a mbad campaign against the disease.
She said Hyderabad, Latifabad and some localities in Karachi, including Saddar, Lyari, Liaquatabad and North Karachi, were more affected than other parts of the province.
In response to a question, she stated that vaccination against polysaccharides had been carried out as part of a child survival program aimed at eligible children, as well as a combined vaccination campaign. against typhoid in the affected areas of Hyderabad district in collaboration with the Aga Khan University Hospital.
When asked if an emergency situation was declared as the situation became serious, the minister responded that there was also a shortage of doses.
Regarding why no awareness campaign was launched, she said the government did not want to spread panic in the public until the required number of doses had been reached.
In addition, she added that general practitioners were also sensitized and informed by the department regarding drug-resistant typhoid, the irrational use of antibiotics and water-borne diseases.
Seven deaths of Naegleria fowleri
Answering another question, Dr. Pechuho said that seven people had died of Naegleria fowleri infection (IFN) throughout the province.
She said that the Karachi Water and Sewerage Commission had the basic responsibility to ensure hygienic drinking water. "The Naegleria has not yet cured and can only be prevented by water chlorination and other measures to ensure a safe water supply," the report said. Minister.
She added that the role of the health department was very limited because it could only educate the population to health, organize public awareness sessions through print and electronic media to maintain the health of the population. Hygiene and share the status of chlorinated water with the KWSB to take preventative measures to prevent deaths caused by NFIs.
The minister said that chlorination of water was the only way to kill the parasite Naegleria, which was growing and multiplying in wastewater.
Mr. Pechuho said that the water distribution system was very old and that it was not up to par. She added that chlorination of water at the source did not produce the expected results, as wastewater was often mixed with drinking water, thus causing the spread of typhoid and diarrhea. other diseases.
Posted in Dawn, January 31, 2019
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