ISLAMABAD: After the Met Office predicted heavy monsoon rains and floods during July and September, the Field Epidemiology and Disease Surveillance Division (FEDSD) of the National Institute of Health (NIH) has issued an advisory, asking concerned departments to be prepared and take timely preventative measures to minimise the chances of disease outbreaks.

Some of the recommendations to different departments including the Islamabad District Administration and the Capital Development Authority (CDA) include the maintenance of damaged water lines and chlorination of water sources, monitoring food points and launching health education campaigns.

FEDSD has recommended that hospital capacities be enhanced, that hospitals keep a rapid response arrangements in place and maintain regular liaison with relevant departments as the number of patients during the monsoon is expected to increase.

The institute suggests damaged pipelines be repaired, water chlorinated and food points monitored

Excessive rains increase the chances of disease outbreaks due to the humid environment. Every year, hospitals experience increased workload during rainy days and this year, it is expected to rain more.

According to the advisory, areas where it is expected to rain more, poor and congested areas are at greater risk of epidemics of water and food-borne infectious diseases. Water pipes supplying drinking water are usually old, rusted and damaged and run alongside sewage pipes, which are often leaking and contaminate drinking water.

“The water-borne diseases attributed to the consumption of unsafe water and non-observance of proper sanitation and preventative measures may pose a serious challenge for the health, and water and sanitation authorities,” the advisory says.

It suggests a more careful watch on water supply systems, repair of damages pipes, sewerage lines and systems without delay.

It also recommends chlorination of drinking water and regular monitoring of hotels, restaurants and other food points, ice factories, street vendors and water reservoirs.

The NIH has suggested starting a health education campaign regarding safe drinking water, hand hygiene, food safety and better sanitation through active community participation particularly aiming vulnerable populations including children, vendors and pregnant women, who are at greater risk of obstetrical complications and mortality from hepatitis-E

Talking to Dawn, gastroenterologist at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Dr Waseem Khawaja said contaminated water is the major reason for disease outbreaks.

“During the rainy season, everyone become more vulnerable to diseases. I suggest people drink boiled water,” he said.

Since the rains have started, he said, more patients have started coming in complaining of food poisoning, gastroenteritis and other stomach related issues.

“Almost 1,000 people have visited Pims since Eid complaining of stomach related issues. The best prevention against gastroenteritis is improved sanitation. Food should be properly cooked and stored and people should avoid eating out and wash their hands before eating and after using the toilet,” he added.

Dr Khawaja said drinking water has been contaminated in urban areas as it mixes with sewerage from leaking pipes and in the rural areas because of the unavailability of sewerage systems. He says the sewerage in rural areas is absorbed into the land and contaminates underground water, which is used for drinking.

Harvesting rainwater

Though accumulating rain water has become a problem in urban areas of the country, environmentalists have urged the government to harvest rain water, which they say is the only solution for the lack of water.

Talking to Dawn, environmentalist Shahida Kausar said people should install water tanks for storing rain water in at their homes and the government should encourage this as water from one day’s rain is sufficient for meeting the water requirements of a house for 15 days.

“When Imtiaz Inayat Elahi was CDA chairman, he announced a project for rain water harvesting. It was also announced that in the future, it will be mandatory for people to have separate tanks to store rain water in. The project did not materialise however, apart from a few schools and departments which installed separate tanks,” she said.

Ms Kausar said the water which accumulates on roads in big cities such as Rawalpindi, Lahore and Karachi mixes with sewerage water and can be useful if properly stored as it is pure water.

“Installing rain water tanks should be made mandatory and plans for houses should not be approved if it does not have one. The water can be used for washing, gardening and many other purposes. If all houses started storing water, there will be no more accumulated water in cities,” she added.

Published in Dawn, July 1st, 2017