Allhumdolillah! I am at a much better place since my last post with series of lab tests, utlrasounds, a mammogram and some other really scary tests, and a gut wrenching anxiety of results. I am doing well thankfully everything was clear except low iron levels with vitamin d3 deficiency. These deficiencies are now on their way to recovery. It is worth noting that I have been struggling with intense brain and physical fatigue since 2019 but not a single doctor was able to identify my problem. Once somebody is diagnosed with depression or anxiety then every health issue they complain about is looked from the psychological lenses. Nobody asked me to check iron, vitamin b12 or vitamin d3 deficiencies even my mum who is a dermatologist always assured me that I am fine and this weakness is just a phase. It was a phase alright, it engulfed almost 8 years of my life pushed back my career and research ambitions. This is not the case alone with me but there are many people who silentl...
I know this is not my usual time to write blog, but here I am. Just returned from a beautiful wedding and had a wonderful time with even more wonderful people; so feeling quite energetic and decided to say what I wanted say.
Today met some true Pakistanis who are doing a commendable
job in the famous desert area of Sindh, Thar. Thar is mostly famous for its most
intriguing deserts but this time it has become far more popular due to the gross
suffering of its people.
We always hear that there is shortage of water in Thar;
however, these days the condition has gone from bad to worse. Thar is an area
which does not see much of the rain and when there is rainfall people stalk
water in wells.
The unfortunate situation is that the water that is stored in
those wells become contaminated with fungus, paramecium and frogs making it unusable
let alone undrinkable. Yet people along with animals from all nearby villages drink
that contaminated water.
With the passage of time and thanks to the ‘Pay No Attention’
policy of the concerned authorities the situation is worsening daily. 70 % of
our bodies are made with water and we need to keep it hydrated in order to
maintain the proper working of all internal organs. However, in Thar due to
this shortage serious health problems are arising, from dehydration (especially
in little children), kidney failure to severe skin problems.
By the way, this skin problem is not acne or sensitive skin type
issue rather due to dehydration the skin gets so dry that it cracks and automatically
tear apart in pieces.
The water which is available is too far from the people that
they have to walk miles from their homes in the scorching, burning heat of
desert before they can even get a glimpse of few drops.
The regular size leather bucket in the well from which they
take out the water can only be pulled by the help of at least eight people. After
hours of huge effort when people do get some water it is severely contaminated
yet having no other option they are forced to drink it.
Then there is also shortage of food, basic hygiene requirements
and timely medical aid. Death toll among children is raising at an alarming
rate and the ones who are alive are barely surviving and mostly waiting when it
is their turn.
Few NGOs like Ehsaas Trust and KGNWT (Khawaja Gharib Nawaz Welfare Trust) are amongst those groups who are trying their best to control water contamination
and provide food. They have installed R.O. (Reverse Osmosis) Plant at some areas
in Thar which is catering to 300 people from the neighbouring villages. This plant
purifies the contaminated water by removing salt and every other harmful
element from water and making it drinkable.
Nevertheless, they need help and support from all of us to maintain
the working of the current plant and also to install further plants. Please do
contribute as much as it is possible in helping our brothers, sisters and
little children so they can live a life a human being truly deserves.
Please make sure that the NGOs’ you will be funding are doing their job honestly
because many alleged helpers go to Thar only for a photo session where they
show the food to those desperate people, take pictures and then run away from
the place along with all the food they apparently brought for the villagers.
After hearing all this I have made a resolution to myself that
from today onwards whenever I am faced with a challenge in my life I will tell myself
‘Sonya, get over it!’, because whatever problems we have in our lives is
nothing compared to the thirst of water.
We have the luxury of clean drinking water, yes it is a
luxury. We have the luxury of drinking water as and when we feel like; just
wait for few minutes when we are thirsty and you will see that thirst can easily
raise our temper.
We cannot even imagine walking from one room to another in
intense thirst, and we have the audacity to take our blessings so lightly as if
they are our birth-right.
I apologize if I have upset anyone but this issue has touched
some deep cord within me and I am angry at myself and everyone who is
responsible for such gross negligence that it is killing people on daily basis.
Let us join hands and do something before its too late.
Good Night!
Sonya Syed. (Day 474)
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