Rawalpindi: The setting in of monsoon in this region of the country may bring serious health threats for children and infants as the healthcare facilities in town, including allied hospitals and private clinics, have already started receiving significant influx of child patients with monsoon related health hazards including gastroenteritis, diarrhoea and other monsoon related problems.Health experts say that at present, the trend of infections among children and infants may be termed as endemic; however, the trend might take shape of an epidemic with continuous rain spells being expected ahead. They fear epidemics of cholera and diarrhoea may hit child population in the region in the coming days particularly if parents do not take preventive measures seriously. It is important that a great increase in number of child patients with viral and bacterial diarrhoea, gastro and cholera is reported every year in monsoon in almost all parts of the country.The situation is well under control at the moment though the allied hospitals are receiving significant influx of patients with summer related health hazards, said Medical Superintendent at Benazir Bhutto Hospital Dr. Rafiq Ahmed while talking to ‘The News’.The incidences of certain infections among children and infants may go on rise with increase in rainfall in the coming days, he said.It is worth mentioning here that in Pakistan, nearly 250,000 children under the age of five die each year due to diarrhoea, mainly because of the use of untreated and contaminated water and unhygienic food. The water-borne illnesses account for nearly 60 per cent of child deaths in Pakistan with approximate 630 children dying daily from diarrhoea.According to Dr. Rafiq, parents must be sensitized on the issue and should be convinced to take extra ordinary care in handling children and infants. Only by creating awareness among public, the losses can be minimized, he said.Experts say that to avoid diarrhoea and cholera, safe water must be given to children for drinking while boiled water should be used for preparing milk for infants. To make water safe for drinking, water must be brought to ‘rolling boil’ for 5-10 minutes otherwise it might not be safe for a child to consume.Studies reveal that in cholera, the watery motion resembles that of rice water and dehydration is much rapid as compared to diarrhoea. Cholera is an acute infectious disease caused by the bacterium Vibrio cholerae that lives and multiplies its colonies in the small intestine. Massive watery diarrhoea is the major symptom of the infectious disease that results in dehydration. Such dramatic water loss, if left untreated, causing severe dehydration leads to thickening of blood, circulatory collapse (shock) and death. Studies reveal that a good number of cholera victims die six hours after onset of symptoms if not treated in time. Nearly 60 per cent of untreated patients die of the disease.Senior registrar at Holy Family Hospital Dr. Zahid Minhas said good hygiene must be followed by parents and particularly mothers to safeguard their children from seasonal infections that may be life-threatening. Wash hands with soup before preparing milk for infants and children and they must be given fresh milk and food each time while leftover food should not be given to them, he said.Experts say that children must be made habitual of washing hands with soup before and after eating and after going to toilet to avoid infections.|Tax-free sacrificial animals’ markets operational from todayBy Khalid IqbalRawalpindi: All arrangements have been finalised to establish ‘Tax Free’ sacrificial animal markets here at Gorakhpur, Chakri and Adiala Road from Sunday (today).Goats, bulls and camels are landing at slow pace here in animal markets because of expected heavy rainfall in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad in coming days. But, sellers from different areas are approaching animal markets in this regard.Similarly, Livestock department is spraying sacrificial animals to avoid different diseases.Town Officer (Regulation) Kamran Khan told ‘The News’ that they have finalised all arrangements to establish ‘Tax Free’ animal markets at Adiala Road, Chakri Road and Gurakhpur from Sunday (today). “Punjab government has strictly directed to establish ‘Tax Free’ markets where people could buy sacrificial animals easily,” he claimed. He also said that we are providing electricity and water to animal markets.Some markets are charging 7 to 10 per cent tax from buyers and sellers but these are not in our jurisdiction, he said. Majority of sacrificial animals are coming from Fatehjang, Attock, Sawat, Sahiwal, Toba Tek Sing, Lahore, Sialkot, Sargodha, Jhang, Narowal, Muzafargar, Mianwali and Faisalabad.District Officer (DO) Livestock Dr Muhammad Arshad said this time animals are not landing in large number due to rainy weather here in twin cities of Rawalpindi and Islamabad. But, a large number of animals are expected in coming days, he hoped. He also said that we are spraying all animals landing in Rawalpindi and Islamabad areas to avert spread of diseases. There is a complete ban to sale of sacrificial animals in city jurisdiction, if anybody tries to break the rules, he will face the music. The prices of animals are quite high with medium-sized goats priced at Rs50,000 to Rs60,000. The prices of a medium sized bull start at Rs120,000 and go as high as Rs220,000. The price of Oxen starts from Rs100,000 and goes as high as Rs180,000 in some places. The price for camels starts from Rs130,000 to Rs200,000.People belong to different walks of life have strongly condemned skyrocketing prices sacrificial animals said that there was no price mechanism of animals. The animal sellers are looting buyers with both hands but government is watching the whole drama with closed eyes, they denounced.
from The News International - National https://ift.tt/2MDSScw
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