Population at risk of contracting gastroenteritis, water-borne infections

Islamabad
With the setting in of monsoon season and start of an expected prolonged rain spell, majority of population in the twin cities of Islamabad and Rawalpindi along with those living in peripheries have become at risk of contracting water-borne infections as the rains may cause contamination of water at sources.
The setting in of monsoon has increased the chances of spread of gastroenteritis particularly water-borne infections including dysentery, typhoid and cholera mainly because the rainwater may contaminate water sources at all levels, said Assistant District Health Officer at Islamabad Capital Territory Health Department Dr. Najeeb Durrani while talking to ‘The News’ on Tuesday.
He added that not less that 70 per cent of the population in the region is at risk of contracting water-borne diseases as they are using tap water or water from wells for drinking and these sources may become contaminated after heavy rainfall in monsoon.
The water accumulated on earth surface in result of expected heavy rains may also contaminate underground water reservoirs after seeping into the ground, he added.
He said it is time to create awareness among public that they must start using boiled water for drinking to avoid water-borne infections. Most of the water sources including community wells would become contaminated with the rainwater, he said.
According to rough estimates, less than 30 per cent of our population in the region uses filtered, chlorinated or boiled water for drinking and the monitoring regarding contamination of water reservoirs supplying water to the communities cannot be termed ideal, he said. The only solution to avoid spread or outbreak of water-borne infections in monsoon is to educate individuals that they should avoid using contaminated water for drinking, he added.
To a query, he said in as many as 12 union councils of the capital, lady health workers and sanitary inspectors have been given responsibilities of taking special measures to avoid outbreak of water-borne infections.
We have directed LHWs to educate housewives on importance of use of clean drinking water and asked them to provide chlorine tablets to families living in rural areas as soon as possible, said Dr. Najeeb while responding to a query.
He added the ICT Health Department has already procured stock of bleaching powder that is being provided to public for purifying drinking water at community wells and wells operating in houses. The sanitary inspectors have been given responsibilities of distributing bleaching powder to individuals and for cleaning drinking water of community wells, he said.
He added that chlorine tablets are easily available in almost all markets at affordable price and it is time to educate people that they should use chlorine tablets to purify water or should use water for drinking after boiling. People must wash hands before eating meal or after using toilet. The most important thing is that the vegetables and fruits brought from markets must be washed thoroughly with clean water as they are highly contaminated, said Dr. Najeeb.