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More attention for the
public health
According
to press reports it is now three weeks that in the town Laç
(Northern Albania) viral hepatitis has appeared and is defused.
Officially there have been 122 cases, 5-15 years old children mainly
affected by the disease. There have been two versions, the
organs of local administration saying that it is epidemic, while the
Ministry of Public Order maintains that we have to do with isolated
cases, now under control.
Concern
has been expressed that the local hospital was not able to afford
the situation created and there have been cases when patients have
been sent home.
The
AHC joins the concern about the situation created in Laç.
Contacts have been established with the local Municipality as well
as with the Ministry of Public Health. The Mayor of Laç
complained that no sufficient investments have been made for the
solution of various problems arising in particular concerning
sewerage and water pipeline. He claimed that much more
investments have been accorded to other Municipalities.
Talking
with the Ministry of Public Health, the AHC has been assured that
the problem will be dealt with seriously. It has been made
known that virus A of the hepatitis is the origin, due to the
amortization of the water pipeline in the most poor quartiles of the
town.
The
AHC stresses the necessity for the specialized organs pay
appropriate attention to the water pipeline, and calls to inform the
public in due time to take the necessary measures whenever problems
arise with the water pipeline. The AHC makes an appeal to the
relevant authorities to intervene immediately for the reparation of
the water pipeline not only in Laç, but in general in other towns,
where the same problem is urgent.
To
tackle the situation joint efforts should be deployed both by the
local administration and the central government in contact with the
specialized institutions.
Tirana,
date 10.01.2003
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