Health dept forms panel to prevent Naegleria Fowleri deaths

Karachi
To battle the growing threat of Naegleria Fowleri deaths, the Sindh Health Department constituted a six member committee to focus on preventive measures against the disease, announced Special Secretary Health Dr Khalid Hussain Shaikh on Wednesday.
He further informed that a Naegleria Prevention Centre (NPC) would be set up at the COD Filtration Plant for regular discussions on preventive strategies as well as conducting sample tests.
The focal group would review samples and would release information to the media in order to avoid confusion.
Dr Shaikh also informed that the committee would order immediate chlorination of water whereas vulnerable areas would be given special attention.
The health department claimed to have written another letter to the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) for ensuring chlorination of potable water in accordance with the recommendations of World Health Organisation.
There was no proper treatment available for the patients but the disease could easily be prevented by adopting simple precautionary measures, the letter maintained.
The KWSB was advised to constitute separate teams to test water samples from various areas to keep the chlorination level in check.
He further said that the health department’s role was only to create public awareness, arrange for medical facilities, diagnosis and its differentiation from other causes of meningitis.
KWSB Deputy Chief Engineer Azam Khan would convene the focal group while Karachi Metropolitan Corporation Deputy District Officer Irfan Khan, Health Department OSD (officer on special duty) Zafar Mehdi, Public Health Engineering Department Assistant Executive Engr Nazir Haider, District Council Executive Engineer Liaquat Ali Mughal and a representative of Director Health Services would act as members.