KOZHIKODE: District health office has been braced up against the waterborne diseases in the coming months, as unprecedented heat is forecast and authorities fear people drawing water from unknown sources inviting diseases. All local self-government institutions were alerted to chlorinate water bodies. Hotels, restaurants and other eateries should be given license to take water in tankers, only after revealing the source of water.
"All water bodies will be checked to ensure it is not contaminated. Grama panchayats and municipalities were urged only to allow the pumping of water from sources checked by the health department," said additional district medical officer (ADMO) Dr Asha Devi. The focus will be on coastal areas and high ranges where water will be distributed in tanks from all available sources. Health officials would insist that the test results of the water samples should be kept in the water distributing vehicles. Likewise, awareness programmes have been strengthened to reach out to more public.
"People have to ensure the quality of water used for drinking and cooking," cautioned the ADMO. The health officials warn against depending on roadside cool bars in the hot blazing months. "People have a tendency to throng them for 'Kulukki Sarbath' and salted mango, gooseberry, pineapple and other items. There is no surety about the quality of water used in such places," cautioned an official.
Another concern is the quality of ice used at marriage functions and other parties. Officials advise chlorinating water sources a week before the function. Health workers will visit the spot and undertake precautionary measures if any water body is found to be unhygienic. Last year, during the January-March period, 45 leptospirosis, 143 hepatitis A and 14 hepatitis B cases were reported in the district. In the same period, typhoid toll had touched 42, besides 30 instances of diarrhoea.
