Infected rubber on sale among young boys
During a visit to my hometown of Booni from Karachi, I have noticed that some people belonging to outside Chitral have dumped used rubber Foley’s catheters in the local market. Unknowingly, the shopkeepers are selling these rubbers to the locals, especially young boys, who use them in making slings/catapults (Ghuleel). I am working at the Aga Khan University Hospital Karachi and know well that these rubbers (see picture) are used Foley’s catheters. However, some unscrupulous people belonging to different areas out of Chitral have obtained the rubbers from different hospitals in major cities and after colouring them are selling them in far-off areas such as Chitral. Common people cannot differentiate these used catheters from the rubber that are specifically produced and used for making slings. These catheter rubbers have been used on patients and are therefore highly infected and can cause different diseases among the people such as hepatitis, AIDS and other life-threatening diseases. The authorities must take action against the people who are supplying these infectious rubbers to the local shopkeepers and seize the stock in the Booni bazaar and other areas of Chitral for the interest of the common people. Khursheed Alam Booni.]]>
This is a serious issue and we would request the govt. administration to look into it and remove the infected items from the market in Booni.
You have pointed out the issue at the right time, but i dont think anyone would take actions. As we see that substandard chips, ice cream and other items are sold in the market despite the fact that concerned authorities are well aware of their quality. Local government officials, elected representatives and administration should come forward to deal with the issue.
Thank You for highlighting this issue
This is self explanatory. Mr Khursheed has pointed out a big issue but why no govt dept is aware of this issue. do they not know these things. why they do not check such things. now at least they should act.
Khursheed bhai you have highlighted one of the most serious health related hazards the people of Chitral are facing these days. Kudos to your keen observation and the acumen to bring it out in the public domain to discuss and take action against the culprits.
If we look at the precautionary and protective measures taken by govt and private hospitals across the country; we realise that very few of those have waste disposal units. In many areas they even don’t believe that such used materials could cause any damage to human health. This careless attitude of the health care providing institutions and the public alike; has encouraged the money makers to take advantage.
We have a few laws in Pakistan which; if could be implemented properly, such situation may not arise ever. Here is a link for the most prominent and the most relevant law: http://environment.gov.pk/act-rules/rHWMRules2005.PDF
We in Pakistan are not unfamiliar with such things as even in the category of staple food the shopkeeper will tell you this is no 1 quality, this is no 2 and this is the cheapest. Be it banaspati ghee (adulterated), injecting water melons with coloured liquids to show them ripened and red; mixing coloured toxic powders in tea packs, selling tap water in branded bottles Or above all, producing anything and everything original look alike fake, in Karkhano market in Peshawar in FMCGs. To the height of it all there were some restaurants in the midlands which were selling donkey meat and mouse burgers.
The problem is not of identifying these issues rather the punishment. Adulteration in Pakistan is considered a crime. We have 5 laws in Pakistan for health and food safety:
These include the Punjab Animal Slaughter Act 1963, sections 269, 278 and 290 of the Pakistan Penal Code, the Price Control and Prevention of Profiteering and Hoarding Ordinance, Food Adulteration and Spurious Drugs Act, while the main law being cited is the Pure Food Ordinance, 1960.
Though the laws are there but there is no action on ground. I suggest the KP govt. should more focus on implementing these laws than planning for another “dharna”. These seem to be little things, giving not much political gain for now; but will have a long lasting impact.
Saif.