Andhra Pradesh - Hyderabad   

Gastroenteritis rampant in Borabanda

HYDERABAD: Gastroenteritis constitutes almost 50 per cent of cases at private hospitals in areas surrounding Borabanda, says M.N. Ahmed, a general practitioner, who runs a clinic at Sultan Nagar near Borabanda. Respiratory tract infections account for 25 per cent of ailments. Breeding of mosquitoes in unhygienic surroundings in Allam Doddi slum that lies adjacent to a huge open-drainage is seen as responsible for malarial fever that is also widely prevalent. Viral fevers and related infections that are contagious are also widespread in many slums and areas surrounding them.

Dr. Ahmed blames water and food contamination, poor sanitation levels and clogging of water in the neighbourhoods and poor personal hygiene for various diseases. The water that slum dwellers receive is not properly chlorinated, he says. With hygiene at its worst in these areas, mosquitoes and houseflies are a major problem in these areas.

With the government health infrastructure almost absent in these areas, residents are forced to shell out more money towards treatment of ailments in private clinics. Interestingly, most of the residents of B.S. Maktha have no clue as to where their nearest urban health centre is.

Each time someone in the colony falls sick, they just have two private clinics to turn to.

“It is okay if the ailment is a minor one, but in case of serious illnesses, we have no choice but to rush to Osmania General Hospital or Gandhi Medical Hospital which are far off,” says Swaroopa, a resident of Hussain Nagar. She and her neighbours are of the opinion that a health centre in the vicinity could help them during emergencies. There are just two clinics that cater to hundreds of families living in the area.

“Sometimes the clinics teem with people and we have no option but to directly approach medical shops for medicines,” Ashok Kumari, a resident says. She says this option is more economical as she saves Rs. 50 on doctor’s consultation fee.

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