Alert for waterborne diseases issued in rain-hit areas

Rawalpindi: The Primary & Secondary Healthcare Department (P&SHD) Punjab has issued an alert of waterborne diseases in eight districts of the province including Rawalpindi due to the current heavy rains.

According to the P&SHD spokesperson on Friday, the district health authorities of district Rawalpindi, Lahore, Gujranwala, Sialkot, Jehlum, Sargodha, Hafizabad and Faisalabad to take proper measures immediately besides monitoring the situation of the water-borne diseases.

P&SHD Secretary Captain (retired) M Usman warned that water-borne diseases like diarrhoea, gastro, Hepatitis A&E and typhoid could be spread after heavy rains due to contaminated water.

He urged the authorities to ensure special arrangements in all districts in this regard.

He directed officers concerned to ensure immediate uploading of all cases of expected water-borne diseases at DSS Dashboard.

He urged the District Rapid Response Force to take immediate action in the most affected areas.

The secretary directed to ensure safety of the field teams besides their monitoring. He said the stock of available medicines in hospitals should be checked and provision of free medicines to the needy people should be ensured.