'Proactive plan' to check gastroenteritis

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, JULY 8.

The civic departments, including the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH), Hyderabad Metro Water Works and Sewerage Board (HMWSSB) and others have launched a "vigorous proactive plan" to combat the growing incidence of gastroenteritis in the twin cities.

However, civic officials asserted that the "situation was quite normal" and "not at all alarming". Moreover, the incidence of GE has been sporadic and not epidemic, they pointed out. "There is nothing to panic," they said.

Armed with statistics, the MCH Commissioner Dr. P.K. Mohanty, and the HMWSSB Executive Director, Mr. K. Prabhakar Reddy, explained to presspersons here on Saturday that the incidence of GE, malaria, and other diseases was low when compared to last year or the preceding years despite more rain.

The number of GE cases from January to June end this year were 2,744 against 3,891 cases last year. And, in the first week of July the cases reported were 127 this year while it was 132 in 1999. "We are not dismissing the problem which is caused due to water and food contamination plus unclean surroundings. But, the fact is that 80 per cent of the incidence is due to lack of personal hygiene. We need to take up a massive public awareness campaign," said Dr. Mohanty.

To strengthen the monitoring mechanism, it was decided to double the number of water samples taken for testing both by the water board and the Institute of Preventive Medicine (IPM). Not less than 500 samples would be tested everyday for residual chlorine. This chemical would also be added at middle points of the distribution system so as to ensure that the minimum 0.2 ppm of chlorine was present.

The IPM would be checking the water quality in all eating establishments and already licenses were cancelled and notices issued to 500 hotels to provide potable drinking water. "The MCH will not hesitate to prosecute those hotels which continue to disregard our directives," Dr. Mohanty said. Mr. Prabhakar Reddy said the staff were geared to immediately attend to rectifying pipeline leakages, drainage overflows etc.

The MCH has also pressed into service 20 autorickshaws to educate the public about the need to have clean surroundings and to be cautious while taking food or water.

Mr. Prabhakar Reddy said the incidence of GE was more in the municipal wards of 1,2,3,16,17,18,19 and 20. Unauthorised connections, pit-taps, dirty surroundings, uncleaned overhead tanks, public defecation, besides leaky pipelines were some of the reasons, he said. "Most of such problems occur in the slum areas during the monsoon," he said

There was also no danger from getting "coloured" water through the taps. The Board was forced to resort to some changes in the water supply because of the submergence of the Peddapur pumping station which resulted in usage of some old pipes. Mr. Reddy urged the people to cooperate with the civic bodies in their endeavour to supply "wholesome" water.

Dr. Mohanty said the MCH was purchasing new machinery and engaging more staff for tackling diseases like malaria.

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Section  : Southern States
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