One child dies in Thar, 110 more hospitalised

-3258 families provided with 50kg of free wheat bag each

KARACHI: One out of 110 children, who were treated at various government hospitals in Tharparkar district on Sunday, died owing to multiple health disorders amid the ongoing drought-situation.

According to Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad Asif Jamil, day to day relief activities in the drought-hit district is in full swing.

The child died after suffering from a disease called septicemia. Although all the necessary protocols were followed the child, who was just five months old, could not survive. On the other hand, he informed that 37 children were discharged after receiving appropriate treatment on time.

In his report, the deputy commissioner informed that 73 children are under treatment in different government hospitals.

According to the report, 546 children were treated on the Sunday in the OPDs of the health facilities under the supervision of Health Department, whereas in the OPDs of 31 Basic Heath Units and 18 government dispensaries functioning under the administrative control of PPHI, 434 children were attended by the health specialists.

The DC further informed that in the third phase of free wheat distribution scheme, 3,258 families were provided with 50kg of a free wheat bag each. Moreover, 22 families, who could not receive the free wheat during phase II of wheat distribution scheme, were also provided with free wheat in phase III.

Similarly, three families, who could not receive the free wheat during phase I, were also provided with free wheat in phase III. In totality, 247,409 families in phase I, 252,415 in phase II and 141,438 in phase III have so far been provided with free wheat bags of 50kg each.

The report further stated that the livestock department also set up veterinary camps in eight different villages of different talukas of the drought-hit district, where 51 ailing animals were treated and 2,939 vaccinated. Furthermore, 247 animals were also drenched in various villages of Islamkot, Mithi, Diplo, Chachro and Nagarparkar.

So far, the Livestock Department has treated 28,145 ailing animals suffering from various diseases, while 1,854,919 animals have been vaccinated and 198,035 drenched.

The DC also informed that initially 123 pregnant and lactating women had been provided with free ration bags at their doorsteps in phase III of the free ration bags scheme. He said that a total of 103,292 ration bags were distributed free of cost in the previous two phases.

He also informed that the government’s initiative of providing free fodder to the owners of the livestock had also got pace and 4,298 cattle owners of four UCs of taluka Islamkot had been provided with 50kg of vanda feed and 25kg of rice polis each. He informed that 25 more UCs had been identified for distribution of fodder in the next phase for which a survey would be conducted by the Thar Foundation engaged in livestock relief work.

He said that the Thar Population Welfare Department district has also set up its camps in six villages of the drought-hit district with an aim to create awareness about contraceptive procedures amongst the women of these villages. According to the DC, one woman had also opted to undergo Jadelle procedure.