Nearly 47,000 displaced pregnant women have been accommodated in relief camps in various districts of Sindh, says Dr AZ RA P echo ho.
After the deadly floods, the affected areas are now facing outbreaks of water-borne diseases, he says.
"More than 134,000 cases of diarrhea and 44,000 cases of malaria have been reported in the province," says Pechuho. KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Dr AZ RA P echo ho highlighted the need for medical supplies amid the devastating floods, saying nearly 47,000 displaced pregnant women have been accommodated in relief camps in various areas of the province.
"More than 134,000 cases of diarrhea and 44,000 cases of malaria have been reported in the province," Pechuho said.
After the deadly floods, the affected areas now face outbreaks of water-borne diseases, she added.
Waterborne infections plague flood-affected areas
It is pertinent to mention here that following the unprecedented deadly floods triggered by monsoon rains of more than 500% above average, affected people are now facing outbreaks of diarrhea, dengue fever, skin diseases and other water-borne infections across the country, health officials say.
Many flood victims, including women and children, are complaining of psychological distress after losing their homes, loved ones and livelihood, officials added.
Public and private health officials said diarrhea, cholera and other water-borne diseases started killing adults and children in flooded areas in various districts of Sindh, Balochistan and southern Punjab, while people also started losing lives to malaria, but no exact figures were provided by health officials.
“As many as 17,242 people, including men, women and children, were treated for skin infections in 442 fixed and mobile camps in Sindh. Diarrhea, gastroenteritis, typhoid and dysentery are the second most common diseases affected by floods, followed by respiratory tract infections. About 14,869 cases of water-borne diseases and 13,326 cases of respiratory diseases were treated in 442 medical camps set up by the Sindh Health Department on Friday,” an official of the Sindh Directorate General of Health told The News.
"0.6 million pregnant women in need of health services"
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has earlier highlighted the need to provide health facilities to nearly 650,000 pregnant women in the flood-affected areas of Pakistan.
In a statement on August 31, UNFPA said it estimated that nearly 650,000 pregnant women in flood-affected areas needed maternal health care to ensure a safe pregnancy and delivery.
"Up to 73,000 women expected to give birth next month will need skilled midwives, newborn care and support," the UN agency said.
"Pregnancies can't wait for emergencies to end"
“Pregnancy and childbirth cannot wait until emergencies or natural disasters are over. This is when the woman and child are vulnerable and need the most care. UNFPA is on the ground working with partners to ensure that life-saving services continue to be provided to pregnant women and new mothers in the most challenging conditions,” said UNFPA Pakistan Representative Dr. Bakhtior.
More than 1,000 health facilities are partially or completely damaged in Sindh province, while 198 health facilities are damaged in the affected districts of Balochistan, Kadyrov said, adding that damage to roads and bridges also threatened girls' and women's access to health facilities.
"We will continue to support medical facilities with equipment and human resources to make them fully functional despite the challenging humanitarian conditions," Kadyrov added.
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