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Contaminated water at NED causing diseases
Karachi, April 17(The News): Contaminated drinking water in the NED University of Engineering and Technology
has allegedly infected many students with Hepatitis A, B and C but the
university authorities are trying to dispel the situation claiming that some
people are trying to create panic in the university for their ulterior
motives.
We talked to some students suffering from Hepatitis and
they confirmed that putrid drinking water was flowing from the taps. Despite the
fact that the filters are attached to the water pipes, the water has a stench
and is light brown in colour. A third year student confirmed that he is infected
with Hepatitis A, a water-borne disease. Three other students of his department
have also been affected. According to a rough estimate the total number of
affectees is 20 to 30. The student said that these filters were installed three
years ago and have not been maintained properly. It is doubtful that these
filters are able to make the water safe for human consumption.
We contacted Javed Aziz Khan, Registrar of the university who said that the figure
given for affected students was a gross exaggeration because the maximum number
of the affected students was not more than 10. He further said that only
Hepatitis A was a water-borne disease and other two ailments were caused by
other reasons. "University regularly checks the water for any contamination and
ensures that it is always within the safest level. At times it is 0 Coliform
(unit to check the water pollution level); other times it is 05-10 and quite
safe for human consumption", he explained. Khan was adamant that it is not an
epidemic and the university is taking necessary steps to discover the source of
the disease.
Dr Farzana Siddiqui, a specialist in Internal Medicine at a
local hospital said that Hepatitis A is caused by contaminated water but
Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C are transmitted sexually or through contamination of
food. She believes that the best course of action is to check water samples
carefully, begin treatment as soon as possible and study the cases of students
infected by Hepatitis B and C.
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| Education News | | Updated: 21 May, 2012 |
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