Unhygienic Environment in Latifabad Isra Aziz

 

 checked 

How and what is unhygienic? specify 

Any report, research, official report, inquiry, complaint on record by the residents. On what grounds and what proves we say so? 

When waste is cleaned  Where all waste of Latifabad is dumped?

Sanitation, sewerage, and other contributing factors

Number of vehicles and sweepers in Latifabad municipal?

Unhygienic Environment in Latifabad

 Isra Aziz

Roll no: 2K18/MC/65 - BS Part – III

Writing on social issues – 2^nd semester NoV 2020

 

The unhygienic environment is a genuine issue that is being faced by most of the places of Pakistan. Specifically, an area that is known as Latifabad is dealing with the same problem since long. This area is a part of the Hyderabad district in the Sindh province of Pakistan. In Latifabad, People are about 65% of the 672,504 population are immensely being affected by this issue. The persisting unhygienic condition had given rise to cases of malaria and other contagious diseases not only in suburban localities but also in some so-called posh areas of the metropolis. Assigning the increment in malaria and other infectious diseases to the unhygienic condition in many localities, doctors cautioned the public that the infection might get frightening proportion if the civic bodies failed to take measures aimed at bringing an end to the threat of mosquitoes (No of malaria or dengue cases?  . The people living in this area said that extremely unhygienic conditions in every unit of Latifabad had made their life miserable. Unfortunately, no serious efforts were being made by the local or provincial governments to provide them at least a healthy environment. (what people have done, how and when approached the authorities? Who are the authorities regarding this issue?

Well, there are so many factors that exist in the environment that directly or indirectly influences the life and health of several individuals in a population like Deteriorating health system, Fragile sewerage system, Unavailability of clean drinking water, Lack of sanitation, and Scarcity of trees and parks (figures and facts, examples).  The sanitation situation in state-run hospitals is very unsatisfactory. Unhygienic conditions are the prime carrier of several diseases. [[The hospital’s purpose is to provide health facilities in a hygienic environment. However, the situation is quite the opposite in the hospital MaaJee and Hilal e Ahmer both are located in Latifabad. Unhygienic conditions make it more detrimental for patients and attendants to be in a medical ward after a while hsopitals condition is separate issue, do not mix up. Yes hospital waste can be mentioned with facts and concrete examples as it contributes to the polution of damage environment]]. People residing in Latifabad regretted that gutters in their area often remained overflowing and garbage often remained accumulated on dustbins and roadsides, some of the units like unit no 11 and 12 have become permanent mosquito breeding grounds.

In a very famous market of unit no 8, there have been seen uncountable plastic bags everywhere on the ground causing filthy place to the people who come here for shopping. Similar complaints have been received from the residents of Unit no 2, 4, 11, also in unit 12 Latifabad.

The main reason for the unhygienic environment of this area is improper treatment and dumping of waste in water bodies accounted for a rise in water-borne disease which is why children and poor people living in localities of this area die of diarrhea after drinking water containing dangerous bacteria. The deteriorated health system had badly affected this area. And some people also criticized the sanitary staff of the city’s town authorities and food inspectors of the city government’s health department for not ensuring cleanliness in and around commercial centers and for not taking any action against those selling fruits and meat without placing nets over the foodstuff. Pollution is another cause of an unhygienic environment that can be controlled if not eliminated through efforts to promote a green environment and ensure proper disposal of waste. That is not all. Here is the responsibility of both the government and the public need to plant trees/cultivate gardens to curb air pollution, switch off appliances using electricity when not in use.

People say the concerned Departments and organizations are not taking this issue seriously. People are very much disappointed as authorities and their initiatives are failed to provide them basic facilities. 

Do not politicise

Syed Tayyab Hussain is the current Mayor Hyderabad Municipal Corporation and the elected lawmakers of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). He is presenting the case of Hyderabad at all forums. With speaking to an expert Mayor Syed Tayyab Hussain said Pakistan Peoples Party’s provincial government continued the policy of discrimination with Hyderabad. He accused the Sindh government of being a barrier to the empowerment of the local government in Hyderabad which had been unprivileged of funds and authority. He was also complaining about the problem of solid waste disposal hasn’t been resolved because no landfill site has been provided to dispose of the city’s waste.

As far as concern with clean drinking water and sanitation of all the nullahs and drains so the Mayor said it is the responsibility of Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA), a subsidiary of Hyderabad Development Authority (HDA) to maintain the pumping machines and power generators at all the drainage pumping stations.

He condemned the decisions and said that the people of Hyderabad and their elected councilors belonging to the MQM-P are well informed of the poor performance of HDA and its subsidiary, the Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA).

He said we are focusing on this issue and trying to increase awareness among our members and we also want some collaboration from our public so that we can sort it out efficiently. Instead of using the law to harass and extract money from the business community, the Environment Protection Agency needs to get serious. They should take elected leaders on board to deal with the issue”, he argued.

However, we all know that our country is already dealing with some major issues but an unhygienic environment is also a serious matter in which government and other stakeholders need to take it seriously, take aside their differences, and bring each other to the same platform to overcome the problem because people had had enough with this problem both mentally and physically. It is their right to have basic facilities and to enjoy a quality of life while they are paying taxes to the government. I conclude with the sentence “The social progress depends on the policy decisions, investment, and implementation capabilities of various stakeholders, government, civil society, and marketing.” Moreover, a delay in imposing environmental measures by mechanized units could push Pakistan further back in its position as a responsible nation that honors its commitment to enhance the quality of life for its citizens. 

 Practical work carried under supervision of Sir Sohail Sangi 

Media & Communication Studies, University of Sindh