KARACHI: Water samples collected from various parts of Karachi city by a focal group constituted by Sindh Health Department (SHD) showed that most parts of the megacity are receiving inadequately chlorinated water.
The six-member committee collected water samples from different localities of the city to check chlorine level and it was found that water being supplied to North Karachi, Gulshan e Iqbal, Gulistan e Jauhar, Sohrab Goth, Orangi Town and it suburban areas are not properly chlorinated.
However, water chlorination situation in Pakistan Employees Cooperative Housing Society (PECHS), Mehmoodabad, Landhi, Korangi and its adjoining areas was found to be satisfactory.
The focal group’s Convener Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi, while talking to media, said that water samples collected during last one month from different parts of the city and tested from laboratories were found not to have been satisfactorily chlorinated.
Earlier, SHD had constituted a six-member focal group to formulate a strategy for control of Naegleria Fowler, with Dr Syed Zafar Mehdi as its convener.
The representatives of Karachi Water & Sewerage Board, Human Resources Department Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), Health Education Officer, Director Health Office Karachi, Assistant Executive Engineer of Public Health Engineering Department, Karachi and Executive Engineer of District Council, Karachi are members of the focal group.
Dr Mehdi explained that 50 per cent areas of the city are receiving water without chlorination.
He explained that chlorination of water is considered to be the only cure against the spread of the deadly Naegleria Fowler disease and other waterborne diseases.
He said recommendations have been sent to KMC concerned of for chlorination of water these areas on an immediate basis.
He maintained that Naegleria Prevention Centre at COD Filtration Plant near Bait ul Mukarram Mosque, Gulshan e Iqbal was the focal point where meetings of the focal group are regularly being held to devisea strategy for chlorination of water.
As many as two people including a girl have already been died from Naegleria fowleri, brain-eating amoeba that enters through a person’s nose and starts consuming brain tissue, this year so far.
About 99.99 per cent naegleria fowler patients who once suffer from the disease have eventuallu lost their lives and there is a very slim chance of survival from this disease. There is no cure of Naegleria Fowler and citizens must adopt preventive measures to protect themselves from the disease. The over-head & underground water tanks, ponds, swimming pools and all other water reservoirs should be chlorinated in the summer season to avoid this disease.
The hot weather conditions are considered to be favorable for the germ that nurtures in warm waters and attacks humans through the nasal cavity.
Citizens have been advised to use boiled or chlorinated water for Wuzzo (abolition) and Ghusil.
The government should supply free of cost chlorine tablets to mosques to ensure that the prayer goers are supplied chlorinated water for Wuzzo.
