A lab test has revealed that not only the citizens of Larkana but the public hospitals there are also using contaminated water.
This shocking revelation was made at the Aga Khan University Hospital, Karachi, where two water samples, one taken from the operation theatre in the emergency ward of the Shaikh Zayed Hospital and another from the Nursing Hostel, were taken for laboratory tests. The findings disclosed that both the samples were faecal contaminated and unfit for human consumption.
These test reports were conducted on September 16 and 18 this year.
The entire sewerage water is thrown into Rice Canal by sanitation staff of Larkana municipality and NSUSC which flows in mid of the Larkana town without proper planning and research studies which not only has destroyed the environment but has also borne health hazards for the residents.
In 2007, sources revealed that the district health officer also obtained several samples from all four corners of the town and sent them to the same laboratory for microbiology analysis which also revealed that 70 per cent of the samples were bearing faecal contamination but the DHO kept the report hidden from higher authorities and did not take any action.
On Friday, when the reports were given to Chandka Medical College Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Ghulam Murtaza Soomro, he immediately wrote a letter to the Larkana division commissioner informing him of the situation and urging him to take foolproof measures on an emergency basis to stop the practice of throwing or draining out sewerage water into Rice Canal forthwith to provide healthy life and safe water to the people of Larkana.
Copies of the letter were also sent to the health secretary, Health Services director general, deputy commissioner, district health officer, municipal commissioner and NSUSC manager for further action.
Dr Soomro, in his letter, said that thrown sewerage water had contaminated groundwater and the residents living on both sides of the canal were using groundwater without knowing its after effects.
In his letter, Soomro urged the authorities to take action against the Public Health Engineering Department and health department.