Dow University of Health Sciences in collaboration with PCSIR and AWARE arrange a Seminar on “Health Impact of THAR Water” recently in Dow Medical College, Karachi. Speaker Sindh Assembly Mr. Nisar Khoro was the chief guest of the occasion.
Mr. Nisar Khoro has said that water is the essence of life and it was now clearly recognized as a fundamental right. Contaminated water jeopardizes both the Physical and social health of all people. He stressed the need to have a receptive system and responsive people. Keeping in view the need of safe water, he promises that he would try that government would make integration in water policy on priority basis especially for people in rural areas of THAR esert. Access to safe water is basic right all human being. Negligence is main factor responsible behind this cause.
He also promised that he would motivate members of the Sindh Assembly to donate their one month salary to establish reverse osmosis filter plant for water purification for the Thar people.
Prof. Masood Hameed Khan, Vice chancellor Dow University of Health Sciences, said that fluorosis caused a number of adverse effects on human health. Recently DUHS first time conducted a study in THAR with collaboration of PCSIR. The effected individual for the Thar was carried to Karachi for treatment on the expense of DUHS and a local hospital is underway for the natives.
DUHS have installed one reverse osmosis filter plant for water purification in the area of study with the help of donors PCSIR and AWARE. There is need for action and for that DUHS will establish 6 more filter plants from its own resources.
Dr. Tahir Rafiq senior scientific officer PCSIR told that DUHS collected 424 samples of under ground drinking water from 386 villages of THAR desert in that study with collaboration of PCSIR and local NGO AWARE. On analysis it was found that more than 78.77% samples were contaminated with high concentration of fluoride.
Mr. Ali Akber Rahimo, Executive Director AWARE said that it was endemic in many parts of china and our neighboring country India (26 states) prevalence of Fluorosis in Pakistan was not known because no study head ever been conducted in the past.
The purpose behind this fatality is the non-availbility of water policy. He also stressed to includes Thar and fluoride issue in water policy.
Dr. Iftikhar Ahmed, Director OJHA and Vice Dean DIMC said that Fluorosis caused a number of adverse effect on health of people. Bone and teeth effected specially they became weak deformed and ugly.
Other symptoms were muscular deformities, painful skin rashes abdominal pain and decrease in mental capacity in children thyroid enlargement, abnormalities in glucose tolerance and aging.