Thousands infected, diarrhea fast spreading in Zabul

QALAT (Pajhwok): Thousands of people have been infected with diarrhea in southern Zabul province due to lack of access to clean drinking water, public health officials say.

Since last three and a half months, more than 23,000 people were infected with diarrhea disease in Zabul and seven of them lost their lives.

Zabul Public Health Department director Dr. Abdul Hakim Hakimi told Pajhwok Afghan News that recently diarrhea cases unprecedently increased in Zabul owing to lack of access to clean drinking water, bombings during the past wars and contamination of water by toxic substances and recent floods.

He said during the past three and a half months more than 23,000 cases of diarrhea were recorded in Qalat and districts, with seven patients losing their lives.

He said the patients included 14,791 men, 8375 women and 6964 children. Among them, 3876 people suffered from severe diarrhea and 4303 people were admitted to health centers.

Dr. Hakimi said since the disease outbreak, he had tried to control the disease and had urgently sent mobile teams to areas where the disease had spread to treat patients.

He said treatment centers of the disease existed in Qalat City, Safa and Shah Joy districts and seven mobile health teams had been appointed to go to the affected areas and treat patients when needed.

He said the Ministry of Public Health and international aid agencies used to provide them with medicines and other necessary items from time to time.

Residents of Zabul say hundreds of people are daily infected with diarrhea in different areas and they are being treated by mobile health teams.

Feroz, a resident of Qalat city, told Pajhwok that when the weather turned warm a few months ago, diarrhea suddenly increased in the province.

He added daily children of the village were infected with diarrhea and were being taken to nearby health centers for treatment by their families.

Meer Hamza, a resident of Shah Joy district, who has been diagnosed with diarrhea, is currently admitted to the health center. He told Pajhwok he suddenly got infected with the disease and water in his body decreased and he was admitted to the hospital.

He said many residents of the province lacked access to clean drinking water --- a reason why thedisease has increased. He urged the government and aid agencies to help provide clean drinking water to people.

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