KHAR: The prolonged dry spell has caused various ailments like cough, flu, throat and chest infections among people, as a result, hospitals in Bajaur Agency are witnessing a great rush of patients.

Residents told Dawn on Tuesday that almost every household in Bajaur Agency had three to five persons suffering from infectious diseases.

Most of the people are suffering from cough, flu, and throat and chest infections, Abdul Hakeem, a resident of Mamond tehisl, said. He lamented that the hospitals lacked facilities to treat the increasing number of patients.

Juma Khan, a resident of Salarzai area, said most of the people lacked knowledge how to keep themselves secure from the diseases. He said most patients visited medicines stores and unqualified practitioners for treatment in the wake of inadequate government health facilities in the region.

The people claimed that health facilities, particularly in the rural areas, were facing shortage of staff and medicines.

A large number of patients, mostly aged persons and children, were witnessed queuing outside OPD of the agency headquarters hospital in Khar on Tuesday.

Dr Sultan Zeb, a medical specialist at the hospital, said during the past weel(s the hospital had witnessed a significant increase in number of patients complaining about dry cough, flu and throat and chest infections.

Acting medical superintendent Dr Naseeb Gul said the dry weather was also causing diarrhea, gastro and other stomachrelated diseases among the people, especially the children.

DISAST ER AWARENESS FUNCTION: The Pakistan Red Crescent Society celebrated the `National Disaster Awareness Day` and `International Day for Disaster Reduction` in Bajaur Agency on Tuesday.

The PRCS`s local chapter arranged a function at Government Postgraduate Collage in Khar in this regard.

People from different walks of life, including teachers, students, workers of various political parties and social activists, attended the event.

PRCS local chapter secretary Dr Shah Hussain briefed the participants about the significance of the event, saying the day was being celebrated in order to create awareness among people about the disaster reduction techniques and to teach the community about the preventive measures to minimise the risks of disasters as well.

He also sensitised the participants to the preventive measures to cope with natural and manmade disasters. Correspondent