Malaria outbreak: Pakistan to buy 62 lakh mosquito nets from India
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After the devastating flood, Pakistan is seeing a rise in malaria cases. The government is going to buy over 62 lakh mosquito nets from India to prevent the outbreak from worsening.
The WHO officials told Geo TV that they will be using financial resources provided by the Global Fund to purchase the nets. They are hoping to buy the nets by next month and will be delivered via the Wagah route.
32 flood-affected districts of Pakistan are seeing a malaria outbreak and the spread of other vector-borne diseases. 33 million people were displaced in the flood that submerged one-third of the country. According to WHO, malaria cases are likely to hit 2.7 million by January 2023.
WHO's director-general, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, had said in a statement that the UN is concerned about a second disaster striking Pakistan in the wake of the flood. "I am deeply concerned about the potential for a second disaster in Pakistan - a wave of disease and death following this catastrophe, linked to climate change, that has severely impacted vital health systems leaving millions vulnerable."
"The water supply is disrupted which is forcing people to drink unsafe water. But if we act quickly to protect health and deliver essential health services, we can significantly reduce the impact of this impending crisis," he added.
The flood damaged 1.8 million homes and destroyed 400 bridges. Roads were washed away and nearly 70% of people tested positive for malaria. Typhoid and skin infections are also commonly reported due to living in unhygienic conditions for weeks.