A staggering 34,701 cases of gastroenteritis and acute diarrhea have been reported in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa within just one week, sparking concerns about the province’s healthcare system and the wellbeing of its citizens. The alarming rise in stomach and intestinal diseases is attributed to poor nutrition, contaminated water, high temperatures, and environmental pollution.
The affected districts include Peshawar, Swat, Bajaur, Dera Ismail Khan, Nowshera, Shangla, Malakand, Haripur, Chitral Lower, and Abbottabad, with Peshawar recording the highest number of cases. The report also highlights the presence of bloody diarrhea in some cases, alongside a surge in vector-borne diseases, skin conditions, and respiratory diseases.
Health experts, such as Dr. Shams Wazir, attribute the rise in gastrointestinal diseases to hot weather, poor hygiene, consumption of substandard drinks, and lack of access to clean drinking water. The unsanitary conditions in public toilets and failure to wash hands before eating are also contributing factors.
To combat this growing health concern, Dr. Wazir advises the public to be cautious about nutrition, water quality, and personal hygiene, particularly with schools reopening. He stresses the importance of keeping school toilets clean and warns against consuming open food exposed to flies.
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