Andhra Pradesh - Visakhapatnam   

Ensure prevention of water-borne diseases: health official

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Medical and Health Department, which is the main stake holder in the medical care, must ensure that all departments are involved in the prevention of water-borne diseases, Additional Director of Medical and Health P.S. Rajkumar said here on Friday.

Addressing the District Medical and Health Officers, Programme Officers, Zonal Officers and Malaria Officers of Visakhapatnam, Vizianagaram and Srikakulam districts at the regional task force meeting on prevention of water-borne diseases, Dr. Raj Kumar pointed out that some important tasks like testing water at regular intervals, checking the drinking water sources, chlorination of water before it was supplied to the consumers, sanitation at the villages, prevention of leakages, etc. were not being carried out in proper manner.

“Our staff must keep a close watch, but the surveillance reports come from press only. We were not aware about the gastro outbreak in Dharmavaram till it was reported in newspapers,” Dr. Rajkumar said.

He stressed that drinking water must be chlorinated before it was supplied to the people. It was the duty of the Gram Panchayats and the municipal bodies but was not being done properly.

Also these two bodies must prevent leakages in water pipes as leakages were one of the main reasons for contamination of water.

It was also necessary to examine the conditions in the welfare hostels run by different departments and ensure that pure drinking water was available to the hostellers along with hygienic conditions.

Regional Director S.S.C. Chakra Rao, DM&HOs of Visakhapatnam and Srikakulam B. Balasundara Rao and Venkateswara Rao respectively, Additional DM&HO of Visakhapatnam J. Sarojini and other officials attended.

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