Via The Nation: Malaria on the rise in KU. Excerpt:
The Karachi University has become the mosquito breeding place, as the registration of the confirmed malaria cases have become routine matter in the university’s clinic.
Dozens of malaria cases are being registered monthly in the campus of the university. The lethargic behaviour of Karachi University’s sanitation department towards cleanliness is a major cause behind the breeding of malaria mosquitoes in the pools of filthy stagnant water.
Teaching and non-teaching staff of the KU and their families living in the residential area of the varsity are the victims of malaria. Despite several complaints from the staff of the university to the authorities concerned, rainwater is still presenting the look of lake in various parts of the university.
Prof Faiyaz Vaid, a senior leader of Karachi University Teachers’ Society (KUTS), told The Nation that KUTS raised the issue of cleanliness in a meeting held recently at the KU Vice Chancellor Office between the teachers’ representatives and KU Vice Chancellor Muhammad Qaiser. He said that teachers are very concerned over the meagre sanitation conditions in the KU campus, which is causing mosquito breeding and diseases to the residents of the campus.
It is pertinent to mention here that KU Professor Dr Shakil Ouj lost his son due to dengue fever two years back but the department is still apathetic towards the issue and not willing to eradicate mosquitoes from the university campus.
A non-teaching staffer, on a condition of anonymity, told The Nation dengue fever and malaria are real threat for our families, while children and old citizens are at higher risk. When KU Clinic Senior Health Officer was contacted by The Nation, he confirmed that the cases of malaria are being reported and said that these cases are of P.Vivax (PV), which is a kind of human malaria.
