LARKANA: As many as 100 gastroenteritis male, female and children patients were brought to the Emergency Department of Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) here on Saturday which include 40-years Fahmida wife of Ghulam Mustafa Gopang, resident of Shikarpur, 60-year old Pathani Khatoon of Luhar Colony, Hina daughter of Ahmed Khan Tunio of Yaro Dero, 30-year Muzaffar Khokhar and others.

CMCH Medical Superintendent Dr. Gulzar Ahmed Tunio said when contacted that Gastro patients are reaching the hospital in Larkana in large numbers who are being provided treatment. He said he visited the Emergency Department early in the morning and instructed the doctors to provide proper medical treatment to the patients. He said gastro patients are also being admitted in the Heatstroke ward which is not needed at the moment.

Dr. Hassan Chandio, Additional Medical Superintendent, CMCH Paeds Medicine Department said that our daily OPD has increased to 1200 from 800 to 850. He said 10% of the OPD patients are suffering from acute diarrhea and seasonal fever. He said 10 patients out of 100 are suffering from viral gastroenteritis. He said fortunately there is no death so far and all the patients are being provided with all medicines. He said that these patients belong to six districts of Larkana Division and parts of Dau district.

He said in reply to a question as to why patients from other districts are coming to Larkana when hospitals are also working in their respective areas said that probably hospitals in those districts are either dysfunctional or lack proper medical facilities hence the patients are always referred or brought directly to CMCH. He said private clinics of postgraduate doctors and general physicians are also full of gastro patients. He said 90% of his patients at the private clinic at Miro Khan are suffering either from gastro or high seasonal fever.

General physician Dr. Altaf Hussain Jokhio of Ratodero said that he has so far examined 15 patients at his private clinic out of which five have been detected suffering from gastro and high grade fever. He said gastro is spreading fast among children and aged people due to recent monsoon rains.

Dr. Sanaullah Abbasi of Naundero said that today’s OPD at Banguldero Rural Health Centre where he is posted as Medical Superintendent was over 300 out of which over 40 were found suffering from gastro. He said he has so far examined 16 patients at his private clinic out of which four have been detected as gastro patients. He said the number of children is higher than adults. They advised the general public to wash fruit etc. before using.

It must be mentioned that Public Health Engineering and Local Government Departments must be mobilized to ensure proper drainage system so that bees and mosquitoes could be eliminated and rainwater is drained out timely, vendors should be made aware to cover their items and healthcare system must also be geared up in every nook and corner of the province so that poor patients should not suffer for negligence of others.