Health condition in down stream Kotri /lndus delta

By: Dr. Karim Khuwaja

Our organization has been medical camps in whole of Sindh since its birth. My paper is restricted to medical problems faced by the people living in down Kotri & Indus delta. As practicing psychiatrist in Thatta my catchments area of patients is Thatta, Badin district, Tando Mohd khan Taluka, of Hyderabad districts.

l have noticed extreme malnutrition in children & women. Mortality rate is high in children & women. skin problems, infections- diseases, Tuberculosis, Asthma, Anemia, Abdominal problems, Diarrhea, eye problems in which cataracts are most common.

A a psychiatrist I will speak about new illness which we discovered in down stream Kotri. in the month of April 2002 it was reported in Sindhi newspapers that people living in the village of Tando Muhammad khan are toring their cloths, having abnormal behavior etc. l constituted a team of doctors comprising of myself, professor of psychiatry Prof. Musarat Hussain, Asst. Prof.Dr. Beekha Ram from L.M.C & a Neurologist Dr. Raza of J.P.M.C, Dr lqbal Dr. Murtaza Dr. Razak Umrani, Dr. Nisar Memon and Dr Amir Ali Channa, we visited villages Yaro Machi, Qaim Khaskheli and Hot Khaskheli of Taluka Tando Mohd Khan Pirano Lund of Mirpur Bathoro, Kharochan, Kirio Gawanr Chotarine village in Sujjawal Taluka, Gharo & Ghorabari.

In Tando Muhammad khan & Bathoro village we noticed that episode went for 30 minutes to 12 days symptoms of this illness were dry mouth, temporary blindness, running here & there, falling down & unconsciousness forgetfulness , toring cloths. some of the female patients fall in fire because of this episodes, having intense fears & feeling of tremors as if earthquake has started. These things were happening in children of 5 years up to people of 80 years of all sexes.

lt started from one village to other village. lt happened in groups, whole of families & whole of village was effected. Bathoro village, T.M.K villages Kiro Ghanwar, Sujjawal and other areas. lt started from 10th April to 30th April. the episode started in some patients recovered in 30 minutes, extreme episode was fro 12 days. doctors prescribed medicines antidepressant, benzodiazepine etc. So we decided that this illness does not come under the heading of Neurology and medicine but it come under Psychiatry & we gave a new name transient Hysteric phobia transient means it come & goes, symptoms of hysteria were presents & phobia means elements of fear i have written in an international magazine & the debate at that level has started about this illness.

Others which as a practicing Psychiatrist, I am noticing the patients in Kharochan K.T. Bander, Ghora Bari, Sakro & Tando Mohd Khan that depression is increasing day by day.

We came to the conclusion that why these things are happening in particular region.There are 3 to 4 factors which are mixed together & due to increase in these problems and the illness have developed malnutrition cyclone in 1999, earthquake which occur in India & its tremors were felt in lower Sindh & Thar. Other problem is that for 6 years there is no water at down stream Kotri, so insecurity & fears of present & future, helplessness & hopelessness have developed which is extremely dangerous. by providing water at downstream Kotri regularly many problems can be solved.

These were the events, which compelled us to organize this seminar to aware the people of the country as well as international community about this grave situation. I hope other distinguished speakers will also highlight on the consequences of this water shortage & others issue of down stream Kotri.