The Sindh health Minister, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, has directed that the availability of medicines of gastroenteritis and diarrhea be ensured in all hospitals in the province.

He made these remarks while chairing a meeting of district health officers, medical superintendents and town health officers, which was held at his office here on Wednesday.

The health minister was of the view that with the advent of summer, cases of gastroenteritis and diarrhea would increase, especially in the rural areas of the province.

He stressed that awareness be fostered among the masses about these diseases and for the public to avoid using substandard and stale food items and boil drinking water before consumption.

He also urged the district health officers to play

their due role in fostering awareness of this issue among the people, and for effective steps to be taken in immunising children from such diseases.

The minister also ordered the presence of doctors and paramedics in hospitals so as to enhance their performance, and cautioned that “no dereliction would be tolerated in this regard”.

Ahmed was also briefed by Dr Suresh Kumar, special secretary public health, on the performance of provincial hospitals.