Maintain hygiene, prevent epidemics, says official

District Surveillance and Reproductive and Child Health Programme Officer Subhash Babruwad said that if everyone maintained hygiene in and around their homes, the spread of diseases could be checked.

He was speaking at an awareness programme for anganwadi workers and accredited social health activists (ASHA) on controlling epidemics here on Friday. The programme was jointly organised by the Information Department, the Health and Family Welfare Department and the office of the taluk Child Development Project Officer.

Dr. Babruwad said to prevent diseases spread by mosquitoes, it was essential to maintain hygiene in households and to ensure drinking water was kept in closed containers.

Dr. Babruwad said that taking precautions and preventive measures were the best methods of controlling the spread of diseases.

President of Hubli Taluk Panchayat Yallamma Doddamani inaugurated the programme. Vice-president Hanifsab Hasanappanavar said that taking precautions was everyone’s responsibility.

District Health and Family Welfare Officer N.M. Angadi appealed to the public and non-governmental organisations to help the administration in maintaining cleanliness.

HDMC Health Officer P.N. Biradar said that anganwadi and ASHA workers played a major role in preventing and checking the spread of epidemics.

He said that besides creating awareness among the public on precautions that need to be taken to prevent epidemics, the workers also should educate people on proper disposal of waste.

Presiding over the function, executive officer of taluk panchayat M.B. Gangal called upon participants to create awareness among the people, especially in rural areas, about the hazards of open defecation and about the financial assistance being given for construction of individual toilets for households.

He said that Hubli taluk had been allocated Rs. 2.75 crore for the purpose.