Unhygienic drinks spreading infections

[LahoreEstate]

Sunday, May 31, 2009
by Obaid Abrar Khan

Rawalpindi

A large number of people, particularly children, are visiting the government hospitals and private clinics daily with throat problems because of consuming unhygienic drinks, which are being sold openly in every nook and corner of the city.

The sale of unhygienic drinks is on the rise with hot weather and one can see the stalls of these drink sellers in front of schools, colleges, bus stands, busy places and along roadsides. Those vendors who do not find permanent place keep on moving from place to place to sell their drinks. Many drinks including ‘Shakar Cola’, ‘Lemon Cola’, and the juice of sugarcane are available for Rs10 to Rs15 per glass. Though the people know that these drinks are unhygienic and are not good for health, yet they consume them to quench their thirst.

Most of the vendors use saccharine in their drinks, which is not only illegal but also injurious to health. These sellers do not even wash glasses after serving drink to the customers.

According to sources in Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS), majority of child patients reporting at the hospital has throat and stomach complications and most of them have consumed drinks from the vendors.

General physician Dr Khaliq Naveed Chugtai told ‘The News’ that unhygienic drinks are very dangerous as they cause throat complications and vomiting.

He said these vendors do not wash glasses, which is very dangerous as different kinds of germs always remain inside the glass. Dr Khaliq said around 230 patients visit his clinic daily and 60 per cent of them with complaints of throat and stomach problems only because of having these unhygienic drinks and food.

People, particularly children, should avoid these unhygienic drinks especially in this hot weather, he said.

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=180469