JACOBABAD, a border region adjacent to Balochistan, is widely recognised as one of the hottest areas in the region, and is also notorious for its high prevalence of hepatitis C.

Despite the presence of medical facilities, such as the Jacobabad Institute of Medical Sciences (JIMS) and the Civil Hospital, the local residents continue to face significant challenges in accessing adequate healthcare services.

This lack of proper medical infrastructure has created a gap thatisbeing exploited by unregulated and unqualified practitioners. In Jacobabad city and its surrounding areas, there are hundreds of unlicensed quacks operating without proper oversight.

These so-called clinics, which are run by individuals without medical degreesor official permissions, are making profits at the expense of the local population.

The unqualified practitioners operating these clinics are not only providing substandard care, but are also contributing to the spread of severe diseases, such as human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and hepatitis C, due to their lack of adherence to basic medical protocols and hygiene standards.

Even though the Sindh Healthcare Commission (SHCC) did take steps to shut down some of these illegal clinics, the efforts proved clearly insufficient.

Many of these clinics have since reopened, and now continue to operate without any fearofconsequences.

This highlights a systemic failure on the part of the government to effectively regulate and eliminate such hazardous establishments that essentially function as breeding grounds for life-threatening diseases.

The situation without a doubt demandsimmediate and decisive action from the relevant authorities to address this public health crisis. Strict enforcement of regulations, consistent monitoring, and permanent closure of these illegal clinics are essential to the task of safeguarding the health and wellbeing of the people of Jacobabad and the broader region.

A failure to act promptly would only exacerbate the spread of preventable diseases, further burdening an already strained healthcare system. It is imperative that the government prioritise the issue to protect the lives of innocent people and eliminate the menace for once and all.

Riaz Sohriani Jacobabad