‘What Can We Do?’: Waterborne Diseases Continue Plaguing Pakistan Two Years After Devastating Floods
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- 12 Nov 2024
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In the aftermath of the catastrophic floods that struck Pakistan in 2022, the country continues to grapple with a public health crisis, particularly in the southern Sindh province. Villages like the one where Fatima Bibi lives are emblematic of the ongoing struggles faced by many families. With every household reporting at least one child suffering from skin diseases, diarrhoea, cholera, dysentery, or malaria, the situation is dire.
A Mother’s Despair
Fatima, a mother of five, has already lost two children to malaria, a mosquito-borne disease that has become rampant in her community. Her three-year-old daughter, Fizza, is battling the disease for the second time in a month. The local hospital provided some medication, but Fatima fears it may be insufficient. Living in a small mud house without a toilet or running water, she faces the daily challenge of securing clean drinking water, which requires a 30-minute walk to the nearest source.
"In our village, there's a lot of dirt and litter everywhere. There are also many mosquitoes,” Fatima lamented. “What can we do? We're poor and have to live here—where would we go? We don’t have the resources to settle in the city or take care of the kids there.”
The Aftermath of the Floods
The floods of 2022 left a third of Pakistan underwater, affecting 33 million people and causing widespread devastation. Two years later, many communities are still struggling to recover, with waterborne diseases continuing to spread, particularly among children. Cholera and dysentery are transmitted through contaminated water and food, while malaria thrives in stagnant water, which has become increasingly prevalent due to the floods.
Health officials are sounding alarms about a looming public health emergency if urgent action is not taken. The situation is exacerbated by the fact that many areas in Sindh and neighboring Balochistan provinces have not seen the floodwaters recede, and essential water supply and drainage systems remain unrepaired.
Contaminated Water Sources
The health crisis is compounded by the use of stagnant and contaminated water for cooking, bathing, and drinking. Muhammad Hanif Memon, the health officer for Sujawal District, emphasized that improving hygiene conditions could reduce disease prevalence by 15%. He called for collaboration between individuals and the government to achieve better health outcomes.
“The water consumed by the prime minister, president, and chief minister, as well as by other stakeholders, should also be accessible as clean drinking water for the average citizen,” Memon stated.
Lack of Sanitation Facilities
The absence of toilets and basic sanitation facilities has further aggravated the health crisis. Villagers are often forced to defecate in the open, leading to increased contamination of water sources. According to UNICEF, approximately 53,000 Pakistani children die annually from diarrhoea linked to poor water supply and sanitation.
The Sindh provincial government is attempting to address these issues by collaborating with local NGOs and UNICEF to install hand pumps and toilets. However, officials have expressed frustration over the lack of international support. Sadia Javed, a member of the Sindh Provincial Assembly, urged the global community to assist Pakistan, stating, "We are a third-world country. We have to admit we don’t have that capacity.”
Political Will and Climate Change
Despite the urgent need for action, observers note that the Pakistani government’s approach to climate mitigation often overlooks the most vulnerable citizens. Environmentalist Ejaz Ahmad from the Institute of Urbanism in Islamabad pointed out that the political will to address these issues is lacking. “Most of the people who have been suffering are poor,” he said. “They don’t have that kind of political strength, which can reach to that level where people get resources from the government.”
Shortage of Medical Supplies
At the Institute of Maternal and Child Health in southern Sindh, the situation is equally grim. The hospital is overwhelmed, treating 300 to 400 patients daily, including 150 to 200 cases of malaria. Dr. Arshad Ali, a pediatric medicine assistant professor, highlighted a critical shortage of malaria medication, which hampers urgent care. The government provides primaquine, a key drug for malaria treatment, but supply issues mean that patients often cannot access it.
“When hygiene and sanitation conditions are poor, especially after floods, the situation has become even more challenging,” Dr. Ali noted. “The situation was bad even before the floods, and we also have a population living in poverty.”
As Pakistan continues to recover from the devastating floods of 2022, the ongoing battle against waterborne diseases remains a pressing concern. Families like Fatima Bibi's are caught in a cycle of poverty and health crises, with limited access to clean water, sanitation, and medical care. Urgent action is needed from both the government and the international community to address these challenges and protect the health and well-being of vulnerable populations. Without significant intervention, the risk of a public health emergency looms large, threatening the lives of countless children and families across the region. The need for improved infrastructure, sanitation, and healthcare resources is critical to breaking this cycle and ensuring a healthier future for the people of Pakistan.
