More than 80% of people have no access to clean drinking water in Balochistan
It is estimated that at least 24 people have lost their lives to the disease.
The cholera outbreak in multiple places in the country rang alarm bells. According to the provincial health department, the first case of the disease was identified on 17th April in the Balochistan. Since then, 2,856 cases and six deaths have been reported.
A report, which was published by a news source on the current issue faced by Balochistan, revealed that the officials are suppressing the official tally of the infection. It is estimated that at least 24 people have lost their lives to the disease. Senator Sarfraz Bugti shared a video of locals, who were protesting in the scorching heat, and urged authorities to take rigid action. He tweeted that immediate help should be lent to those who are being impacted.
20 died including children due to the cholera epidemic spiralling out of control in Pir Koh, #DeraBugti CM @AQuddusBizenjo is urgently requested to take stock of the situation and immediately lend assistance to the afflicted. People are suffering and protesting but no one cares! pic.twitter.com/YKX7gg7Gxj
— Senator Sarfraz Bugti (@PakSarfrazbugti) May 14, 2022
Reports show that the residents of Balochistan’s district Dera Bugti have to drink dirty water due to the scarcity of clean water. Previously, six people in the district, including children and women, died within hours of being infected with cholera. The district health officer in Dera Bugti, Dr Muhammad Azam Bugti revealed to media outlets that local people and animals use the same ponds for drinking water, which has been a catalyst in spreading the disease.
More than 85% of the population does not have access to clean drinking water.
”This is at a time when billions of rupees are being allocated every year for water supply schemes in the province,” he said. However, authorities have taken notice of the issue as CM Mir Abdul Quddus Bizenjo has ordered the department of public health and PM Shehbaz Sharif has ordered emergency relief measures.
In the long run, the provincial government will have to set up a research cell to study the epidemic, which has now rooted itself as a fundamental problem in the province.
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