UNSAFE WATER IS A MAJOR HEALTH HAZARD AND CAUSE OF DEATH

The deaths of 17 villagers including 13 children, from three families in Budhal village, in Rajouri district of Jammu and Kashmir in December last, was found to be due to pesticide contamination of spring water.

- DR P.S.VENKATESH RAO

Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS), a rare disorder affecting nerves leading to weakness and even paralysis of limbs, body, and breathing has affected more than 150 individuals in Pune. The outbreak of GBS has been triggered by infection with campylobacter jejuni bacterium, often transmitted through contaminated food or water. During the midst of the Delhi election, former chief minister Arvind Kejriwal accused the Haryana government of poisoning the Yamuna River supplying water to Delhi, based on a water analysis report showing high ammonia levels.

UNSAFE WATER: Polluted water, poor sanitation, and hand hygiene are responsible for over one million deaths each year globally from diarrhoea. Other serious waterborne infectious diseases include cholera, amoebic and other dysentery, hepatitis, typhoid, and polio. These exacerbate malnutrition and childhood growth stunting. Despite a marked reduction in the death rate in India from 200 per 1 lakh population in 1990 to less than 35 now, it is still a major cause of mortality especially among children.

SAFE WATER: Projects such as 'Har ghar nal se jal', Karnataka Ganga-kalyana, and Namami Gange are a major step towards providing safe water. Safe water can be provided by piped water, boreholes or tube wells, protected dug wells, protected springs, rainwater, and packaged or delivered water. Proper maintenance of these sources to prevent contamination and sustained quality control is essential to ensure the continued safety of water.

Improved water supply and sanitation, and better management of water resources, can boost countries' economic growth and reduce poverty.