Udupi Takes Proactive Steps to Prevent Water-Borne Diseases
Udupi, August 9, 2023: In a proactive move to ensure the safety of public health, Prasanna H, the Chief Executive Officer of Zilla Panchayat, has directed officials to rigorously monitor the quality of drinking water sources in both urban and rural areas of the district.
The instruction comes as part of efforts to prevent water-borne diseases and maintain the overall well-being of the community.
Speaking during a virtual interaction meeting centered around the prevention of water-borne diseases, Prasanna H highlighted the critical importance of pure and uncontaminated drinking water. He emphasized that drinking water sources must be thoroughly tested and maintained to avoid the risk of infectious diseases spreading among the public.
“If the sources of drinking water are contaminated, the public consuming that water is more prone to infectious diseases. Water from all drinking water supply sources in the district should be tested and care should be taken to ensure that no contaminated material or water enters the drinking water in that area,” stated Prasanna H.
He further instructed officials to maintain cleanliness in the surrounding areas to prevent the accumulation of garbage and the growth of bushes.
To bolster hygiene efforts, Prasanna H urged the adoption of a comprehensive strategy. This includes using funds allocated under the 15th Finance Plan to clean overhead tanks in all gram panchayats and implementing chlorination techniques in coordination with the health department.
He also directed Panchayat Development Officers to expedite the procurement of fogging machines across panchayats, aiming to control insect-borne diseases effectively. In addition, engineers from the rural drinking water and sanitation department have been tasked with assessing the hygiene conditions of drinking water in all gram panchayats.
Prasanna H also highlighted the vulnerability of children to infectious diseases, particularly diarrhoea, and directed the women and child development department officials to install water purification filters in all anganwadi centres. This step aligns with the swift spread of diseases among children.
Focusing on community awareness, Prasanna H instructed the preparation of informative jingles to educate the public about the necessary measures for disease prevention and control. He underscored the importance of conveying these messages through solid waste collection vehicles to reach a wider audience.
During the virtual conference, District Surveillance Officer (In-charge) Dr. Vasudev Upadhyaya shared insights into clean drinking water practices, contamination risks, and precautionary methods. Topics covered included personal hygiene, hand hygiene, and chlorination techniques.
Officials who participated in the meeting included District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr. Nagabhushana Udupa, District Malaria Officer Dr. Prashanth Bhat, District Family Welfare Officer Rama Rao, Zilla Panchayat Chief Planning Officer Srinivasa Rao, medical officers from the health department, taluk panchayat executive officers, engineers from the rural drinking water department, and panchayat development officers.
