Should you beware of water parks in Karachi?

Abeera Zainul Abidin was an 18-year-old student in her first year of medical school at the Government Degree College in Gulistan-e-Jauhar, Karachi. Fun loving and respectful, studious and a hafiz-e-Quran, Abeera was admired and treasured by all. She aspired to become a doctor and was the only child to her parents.

But, on the night of April 21, 2015, Abeera died.

Such a young, beautiful life snuffed out so tragically, all due to negligence. No, the negligence was not at the hands of the doctors. A few days before her untimely demise, Abeera’s college went on a field trip to Dream World Resort located in Gulshan-e-Maymar, Karachi.

The tragedy is, this well-known resort charges an extravagant membership fee, boasts “200+ fantastic amusements” and many other ‘world-class style’ facilities – one would think the maintenance would be top-notch. As a water resort, Dream World grossly failed to make sure that the water they used was tested and treated. This failure reflects upon their responsibility of providing its visitors with a safe and healthy environment, especially Abeera who lost her life to their negligence.

When Abeera came back from her trip, she began complaining of severe headaches – within a few days, the symptoms of the horrible disease became apparent. Her parents rushed her to the Aga Khan University Hospital (AKUH) in the hope that the doctors would treat whatever ailment she was suffering from. Unfortunately, she was diagnosed with a fatal disease called Naegleria Fowleri. Within a few days, the infection had spread through her brain.

“Naegleria Fowleri (also called brain-eating amoebas) is a free parasite that lives in warm water and soil which infects people as it can travel from the nose to the brain and cause the disease,” explained Dr Afia Zafar, professor and consultant microbiologist at the Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Aga Khan University.

“The available treatments are not very successful but we can try to protect ourselves by using chlorinated water and make sure to check if a pool is chlorinated, especially in the months of summer”, added Dr Zafar.

Abeera was just a child. She had yet to do so much in life.

Did she deserve this painful death?

Did her parents deserve to be left forever with a wound that will never heal?

“It was an agonising moment when I came to know that Abeera, my only child, is suffering from Naegleria, a disease which has no treatment in our country,” said Abeera’s father, Abid Noor Shaikh.

As soon as her parents got to know of her health, they did what every parent would do to save the life of their child but their efforts to rid her of the disease remained futile.

“AKUH is the largest hospital of our country; it contains the most renowned and experienced, specialised doctors, with the latest technology equipment. People rely on them that they will do their best to treat patients no matter what the disease but they did not do the same for my daughter,” Shaikh added.

No one can imagine the pain and agony that Abeera’s parents must be going through. Abeera was their only child, the light of their lives. The vacuum she has left behind will never be filled.

“I have only one question for the doctors of our country and the research and health departments. Why is our country still lacking in the research needed to diagnose and treat such disease?” asked Shaikh.

He further added,

“I would have given up all my money for my child if the infection could have been treated. Who can raise their voice against such well-known places? There is no one to verify what they are doing. Human life has become a joke for the sake of money, especially to those high ranking people who are either part of or control the management.”

Can negligence of this kind be forgiven or forgotten?

Put yourselves in the shoes of Abeera’s parents for one minute – imagine the hopelessness and mental trauma. Feel the loss. Now tell me, is it too much asked to demand proper inspections and lab tests done, on a regular basis, in places that have such bodies of water.

Photo: Sadia Farrukh Mukaddam

Serious measures need to be taken so that more people, like Abeera, do not lose their lives to this horrible disease. It may be someone else’s story today, but it can be your reality tomorrow.