ANTI WATERBORNE DISEASES CAMPAIGN

“An endeavour to provide healthy human environment by eradicating waterborne diseases”

Launched by
Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital Lahore

Introduction:

Water-borne diseases are any illness caused by drinking water contaminated by human or animal faeces, which contain pathogenic micro-organisms. The full picture of water-associated diseases is complex for a number of reasons. Over the past decades, the picture of water-related human health issues has become increasingly comprehensive, with the emergence of new water-related infection diseases and the re-emergence of ones already known.
These diseases are largely caused by micro-organisms present in human or animal waste (faeces) finding their way into humans via the mouth (orally). This may happen through drinking from a contaminated water supply (water-borne disease), but more often faecal-oral diseases are spread through other routes, such as via hands, clothes, food, or materials use for cooking, eating or drinking.(More rarely, some of these diseases may also enter the body through the eyes, nose or open wounds.) These diseases are infectious, which means that they can spread from one person to another. So high standards of hygiene and sanitation are need to stop the disease spreading.
In developing countries four-fifths of all the illnesses are caused by water-borne diseases, with diarrhoea being the leading cause of childhood death.
The global picture of water and health has a strong local dimension with some 1.1 billion people still lacking access to improved drinking water sources and some 2.4 billion to adequate sanitation. Today we have strong evidence that water-, sanitation and hygiene-related diseases account for some 2,213,000 deaths annually and an annual loss of 82,196,000 Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) (R. Bos, Dec. 2004).
The burden of several disease groups can only partly be attributed to water determinants. Even where water plays an essential role in the ecology of diseases, it may be hard to pinpoint the relative importance of aquatic components of the local ecosystems.
USAID reported that over 1 billion people lack access to safe water sources. Even for those who do have access to water, unsanitary handling and storage translates into unsafe household water for drinking and food preparation. Unsafe water, sanitation, and hygiene practices are responsible for the vast majority of diarrheal diseases, a leading cause of nearly 2 million deaths of children under age five annually.

Water related diseases:

Water-borne diseases in Pakistan:

Pakistani citizens are paying a high price for the pollution of their water supply. "About 40,000 children a year die from drinking contaminated or polluted water, and 60 per cent of infant deaths are caused by waterborne diseases," according to the Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC). Every fifth person in the country suffers from illness associated with pollution, and 40 per cent of deaths in urban centers are caused by unsafe water. A huge amount of sewage is pumped into the Ravi every day. Of the nearly 100 million gallons of liquid waste produced daily, only 10 million gallons are treated. All the sewage eventually is dumped into waterways. On top of that, hundreds of tons of solid waste from the two cities are added every day. Hospitals, medical schools, textile and marble factories all make their special contribution to the polluted water. "Pakistan generates over 50,000 tons of solid waste per day – out of which only 20 to 25 per cent is collected but not disposed of in the proper manner. Only three per cent of the industry treats their waste, while the rest discharges untreated effluent into rivers, lakes and the sea," states the UN Environmental Program (UNEP) country report for Pakistan. The resulting contamination has degraded aquatic life to the point where many species, including freshwater turtles, frogs and some fish such as trout are endangered. It also poses serious health risks to humans in the area, UNEP says. According to the UNEP report, about 47 per cent of the population has no access to safe drinking, and nearly 84 per cent of the rural population is without sanitation facilities. Waterborne diseases account for 20 to 30 per cent of infant deaths in the country, and pollution contributes to the incidence of cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, diarrhea, dysentery, yellow fever and malaria.
Water-borne infections such as cholera, typhoid fever, and dysentery also burden the public health system and can impose significant economic losses. Safe water alone can reduce diarrhea and other related diseases by up to 50%, but an estimated 62% of Pakistan’s urban population and 84% of the rural population do not treat their water.
Lahore is the second largest city of Pakistan. Other than many famous Historical monuments, the city is also known for its beautiful gardens, mostly laid out during Mughal Empire and British Raj.
About the quality of water, a recent study of 11 cities, Lahore included, by the Pakistan Council for Research in Water Resources (PCRWR) reveals that over two million people in these cities are drinking unsafe water, with a high arsenic concentration. “Major industrial contributors to water pollution in Pakistan are petrochemicals, paper and pulp, food processing, tanneries, refineries, textile and sugar industries,” says the study. Only about five per cent of national industries conduct environmental assessment. The sugarcane-based industry, the second largest in the country, is a major cause of pollution.
“The salinity level of ground water is increasing. Industrial wastewater that includes toxic chemicals, organic and heavy metals is discharged directly into public sewers without prior treatment. There is reported leaching of wastes into groundwater, causing outbreaks of water-borne diseases. An estimated 250,000 child deaths occur each year in Pakistan due to water-borne diseases,” the report said.
Commenting on water crisis in the city, Muhammad Jamil Bajwa, Nespak director general of environment and public health, said the city aquifer was depleting because the administration of Lahore did not conserve rainwater and all this water went to rivers and canals. The city should create infrastructure like deep ponds and parks which can help seep water into the soil. With population increasing, such places were becoming scarce, he said.
According to him, there are ways to contain contamination within the cities, but no one executes them. The main reason for the contamination is water consumption patterns. Supplies and consumption here are intermittent as 70 per cent use of water is done in morning hours. If water pipes are loaded, they resist invasion of contamination. A reverse pressure, however, is generated once supplies recede, and contamination, if any around water pipes, is sucked in. Once some kind of contamination seeps in, the entire distribution system is exposed, he said.
“The government had promised to install filters in all union councils (UCs) to provide clean drinking water to city dwellers, but only 15 UCs of 150 have received filters,” says Malik Aftab, a civil engineer. Contamination of water has been reported even where these filters have been installed. A link between polluted water and human health is established, but it seems that the news has not reached the government, which continues ignoring the fact at the risk of public health, he said.
The problem with sanitation services was that they were provided mainly by the public sector and were inadequate, inequitable and inefficient, he said.
Some 20 to 40 per cent beds in hospitals of Lahore are occupied by those suffering from waterborne diseases. Waterborne disease included typhoid, cholera, dysentery and hepatitis. These kill 33 per cent of patients in the city.

The need of campaign against water-borne diseases:

A vast majority of the people living in Lahore is suffering from water related diseases government and non-governmental organizations couldn’t have done anything seriously to spread awareness to protect people from these diseases. Waterborne diseases are being increased by polluted water drinking habit due to unavailability of fresh water.
According to the UNEP report, about 47 per cent of the population of Lahore has no access to safe drinking. Waterborne diseases account for 60 per cent of infant deaths in the country, and pollution contributes to the incidence of cholera, typhoid, hepatitis, diarrhea, dysentery, yellow fever and malaria.

Anti waterborne diseases campaign by Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital:

Anti waterborne diseases campaign is being launched by Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital at Lahore. Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital a non profit trust hospital has been serving poor and deserving patient since 1994. The credit to serve 40% people of Lahore is the sign of Allah’s blessing, and it shows clear vision, dedication and commitment of whole team (working in hospital) for their consistence capabilities to bear humanity pain.

Why Anti waterborne diseases campaign by Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital?:

Government or some NGO might have launched Anti waterborne diseases campaign earlier but:

 Now Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital is going to launch a campaign against waterborne diseases in which it will be tried to aware 100% people of the city. Special diagnostics and treatment would be arranged for special care of waterborne diseases patients at hospital.
Vision statement of the campaign

“An endeavor to provide healthy human environment by eradicating waterborne diseases.”
Objectives

The activities
The following activities would be conducted in this campaign.
Research
A research about the waterborne diseases would be conducted to know the fact and figures and hidden root causes of spreading waterborne diseases in Lahore.
 Media campaign
Electronic Media Advertisements
An advertisement, in which the causes and consequences of waterborne diseases would be explained. The effect of waterborne diseases would be broadcasted for education of people by using different TV channels.
Print Media Advertisement
Articles, columns would be published in Newspapers for the awareness of people.
Hoardings
A message containing awareness about waterborne diseases would be spread by hoardings and signboards.
Brochures
The brochures for the awareness about waterborne diseases would be published.
Columns/Articles
The senior columnists would be requested to write the columns/articles to aware people about the campaign. This is an effective method to educate people about waterborne diseases and its causes.

Medical camps
Medical camps by Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital will be arranged in different areas of the city to aware and provide proper treatment of the waterborne diseases at their doorstep.
 The following arrangement would be managed for medical camps.

The following staff would be present at the camp:

The following services would be provided in these camps:

Medical camps will be arranged in two Union Councils of every nine towns of Lahore.
The duration of medical camp would be 9:00 am to 5:00 pm.
Mobile medical camp
A mobile medical camp would be arranged for serving people living in Lahore. The purpose of this mobile medical camp is to aware people about waterborne diseases and its care. This camp is an effective source of education when it will pass away from different areas of the city. Mobile medical camp will fulfill the awareness and services requirement of the campaign. The camp should be decorated attractively.
The following staff would be present at Mobile Medical Camp:

The following services would be provided at Mobile Medical Camp:

This camp would cover more areas of the city than the formal medical camps. Mobile medical camp will visit four union councils of a town daily.

Water Testing:

Seminars
The seminars regarding waterborne diseases would be arranged during the campaign. The famous medical personnel would be invited in these seminars. These seminars would be helpful to build an effective image of this campaign.
Walk
A walk against waterborne diseases would be arranged to make this campaign more effective. General public would be requested to participate in this walk. A media advertisement would be ensured to make this walk more worthwhile.

Activities within the hospital
The following activities will be organized within Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital to make this campaign more effective and practical.
Special Desk
A Special Desk will be installed as a reception to deal the patients of waterborne diseases in the hospital. This desk would be well decorated to attract the visitors.
Following services would be provided at this desk:

Diagnostics:

The hospital would provide diagnostics of waterborne diseases to the patients of these diseases. All the medical tests would make sure to provide the patients at hospital to provide free diagnostics to patients would be on top priority.  

Special Ward:

The Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital will open a special ward to admit the patients of waterborne diseases. This ward will work under the competent doctors and paramedical staff. All best necessary facilities and services would be provided in this ward.

Care of patient as “Special Guest”
The patients of waterborne diseases, admitted in the hospital will be considered as “Special Guest” of the hospital. All the best services and facilities would be provided to these patients.
Vaccination at 50% Discount Rate
Surayya Azeem (waqf) Hospital will provide the vaccination of waterborne diseases, especially for Hepatitis patients, at 50% discount rate. It will be a great opportunity for the patients of these diseases who cannot afford the huge expenses of vaccination of waterborne diseases.
Special Discount
Although all patients should be treated by special care according to Islamic teaching but the patient caused by waterborne diseases specially hepatitis patients considered special guests at hospital. This approach would create special relation within theses patients and hospital. This service would prove our sincerity and keen sympathy towards waterborne diseases patients.

Duration of campaign
The campaign will

Personnel required for campaign
Research

Media Campaign

           
Medical Camps

Mobile Medical Camp

Seminars/Walk

Special Desk

Special Ward

Cost Estimate for “Anti Waterborne Diseases Campaign”