KARACHI: As the number of cases of diarrhoea, dehydration, respiratory infections, malaria, dengue and skin problems increases at the healthcare camps in the flood-affected areas, experts have warned of widespread diseases if the living conditions and healthcare needs of the flood victims arenot managed timely.

The new spell of rain may not only add misery to the flood victims but also interrupt ongoing healthcare services, said a statement by the Aga Khan University`s Flood Response Task Force.

The task force is led by Dr Adil Haider, the dean of AKU Medical College, and AKUH CEO Dr Shahid Shafi.

Better living conditions, healthyfood, clean drinking water, healthcare facilities and mosquito control should be the top priority in the relief work, said the statement.

It said another concern is the health of pregnant women. The United Nations Population Fund has estimated that over 650,000 pregnant women are in urgent need of maternal health services, whose lives can be improved by providing them with timely care, the taskforce stressed.

The statement said that AKU`s healthcare camps and mobile units in the flood-affected areas had provided care to over 52,000 people in 18 districtsof SindhandBalochistan.

Out of 52,000 people who visited the camps, 15,000 were women, including 1,650 pregnant women, and 13,000 children under five.

Over 3,700 children received routine vaccination.