The measles outbreak in Balochistan’s Dukki area has claimed the lives of four children and affected hundreds more. Meanwhile, the Dengue virus has gone out of control in Turbat with 271 cases reported only in the month of December 2022.
According to Dr. Johar Shadozai, the Medical Superintendent (MS) of Dukki hospital, four children died as a result of the outbreak of measles. Some family members blamed the health department for its failure to provide timely vaccination to the children. “Teams came when our children died”, one of the relatives of the deceased children said.
The lives of thousands of children across Balochistan are in danger because of the declining ratio of routine immunization. Some medical officials claim that children aged between 6 months to 15 years are the most affected, especially in those communities that do not believe in vaccination.
Chronic refusals coupled with poor medical facilities in rural Balochistan are one of the underlying reasons behind the increasing deaths of children.
On the other hand, the Dengue virus has also badly affected the Turbat region of Balochistan. According to the sources from Teaching Hospital Turbat, numerous people are affected by the Dengue virus, while there are no facilities in the hospitals.
The local residents claimed that it is a normal routine for the doctors to be absent even at 12 o’clock. Teaching Hospital is the largest hospital in Turbat but still, it is deprived of the basic facilities. “The sanitation system is poor in the hospital”, a family member of a patient told the media.
As per health sources, during and after the passage of floods, Balochistan reported 3389 dengue cases in four months. Most of the cases were reported from Balochistan’s Makran division.