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Provincial Poison Control Centre
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A Project under Technical Assistance of WHO
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Introduction
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Faisalabad is 3rd largest city of Pakistan & according to studies by National Institute of Population Study (NIPS) its population is 61,62,000 in 2004 comprising of urban & rural population.
Faisalabad is heavily industrial area & its common industries include cotton, textile, chemicals, weaving & processing industries. Moreover household power looms are common cottage industry. In its rural belt its land is very fertile & main crops include wheat, sugar cane & there are numerous gardens producing citreous fruits as oranges etc.
Being an industrial & agricultural city, majority of Faisalabad population belongs to low socio-economic group & labor class with high rates of literacy & unawareness about diseases, their precautions & about dangerous drugs. According to study by NIPS, 29% of the population of Faisalabad have access to Radio, 83% see TV & 47% have access to newspapers.
Moreover, due to agriculture & industrial based economy, occupational hazards & accidental poisoning related to drugs used in industry & agriculture is very common. Socio-economic trends, illiteracy & rural life style play their role & these easily available drugs are commonly used as suicidal & homicidal purposes also.
During the year 2003, three hundred & sixty five (365) cases of poisoning were brought to the emergency departments of Allied hospital & District Headquarters hospital (DHQ) Faisalabad. Mortality rate in these cases is very high & its almost 100% in pesticide & insecticide poisoning (Based upon data collected from Allied hospital/District Headquarters hospital Faisalabad).
Sensing this serious problem & grave situation, Head of Medicine department Allied hospital,
Prof Dr Irshad ul Haq
& Head of Forensic Medicine PMC
Dr Ahmad Saeed
sat together to lay down foundations of a Poison Control Centre in Faisalabad which would be a Provincial centre with the technical assistance of World Health Organization (WHO).
Poisoning Cases in Faisalabad during 2003
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Type
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Number of cases
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Rat Killers
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165
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Wheat Pills
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789
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Sedatives/Medicines overdose
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379
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Phenyl Tablets
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28
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Unknown Poisons
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26
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Copper Sulphate
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17
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Alcohol/Spirit
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11
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Kerosine Oil
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11
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Arsenic
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1
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Petroleum
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1
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Total
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1428
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