Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to consider providing quality medical care to habitations where quality of water is affected with contaminants like arsenic, fluoride and iron etc.;
(b) if so, the details thereof; and
(c) if not, the reasons therefor? |
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ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a) to (c): Provision of safe drinking water and health services falls within the remit of the State/UT Governments. However, the Government of India has taken steps both for facilitating availability of safe drinking water and also for ensuring effective surveillance of outbreaks of water borne diseases and their prevention and management.
As informed by the Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, all States have been informed to commission surface water based piped water supply schemes in all habitations as a long term sustainable solution. However, since these projects have a long gestation period (say 3-5 years) and the rural people cannot be put to the risk of consuming contaminated water, all States have also been advised to install community water purification plants. This has been done with the objective of providing 8-10 litres of safe water per capita per day for drinking and cooking purposes only.
Government of India started the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) in the 11th Five Year Plan. So far, 132 districts of 19 States have been covered under the programme. The important components of the programme are surveillance of fluorosis in the community, Information, Education and Communication (IEC) activities, capacity building in the form of training and manpower support, establishment of diagnostic facilities, management of fluorosis cases including treatment, surgery, rehabilitation, and health education.
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The Guidelines “Detection, Prevention and Management of Arsenicosis in India-A Field Guide” have also been finalized by an expert Committee and sent to the Arsenic affected States (i.e. Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Punjab, Uttar Pradesh & West Bengal). State Governments are also advised to strengthen Distt./CHC infrastructure for early diagnosis, management and treatment of Arsenic affected cases and for this purpose seek necessary support in the State PIPs submitted under NHM.
The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Delhi provides technical assistance to State/UT Governments on prevention and control of water-borne diseases in carrying out investigation of outbreaks of such diseases under Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme (IDSP). At the National level, NCDC also coordinates laboratory support for outbreak investigations, besides conducting regular training courses for development of trained manpower.
Health System Strengthening support being given to the State Governments under National Health Mission (NHM) also enhances capacity of the Health Institutions, up to the district level, to treat and manage water borne diseases. |
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