Question : DISEASES CAUSED BY CONTAMINATED WATER

(a) whether attention of the Government has been drawn to the rising number of cases of diseases and deaths attributable to intake of contaminated water in the country;

(b) if so, the details thereof indicating the number of such cases and deaths reported during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;

(c) the programmes being implemented by the Government to provide healthcare facilities to such patients and the funds allocated/utilized for the purpose during the said period, State/UT-wise; and

(d) the further steps taken/proposed by the Government in this regard?

MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE (SHRI GHULAM NABI AZAD)

(a)to(d): A statement is laid on the Table of the House.

STATEMENT REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO LOK SABHA STARRED QUESTION NO.302 FOR 14TH DECEMBER, 2012

(a) Consumption of contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Cholera, Viral Hepatitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). However, reported cases and deaths attributable to intake of contaminated water do not show a definite increasing or decreasing trend.

(b) State/UT-wise number of cases and deaths due to Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Cholera, Viral Hepatitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), as reported by State/UT Governments, during last three years and the current year (as per the latest report) are given in Annexures – I to V.

(c)&(d): Health is a state subject and the responsibility for providing healthcare facilities to patients primarily lies with the respective State Governments. However, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare provides financial and technical assistance to State/UT Governments under National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) for strengthening of primary and secondary health care facilities to effectively respond to health care needs including health problems arising from consumption of contaminated drinking water. The financial assistance for this purpose is provided under NRHM Flexipool as per the needs of States/UTs which are reflected in their annual Programme Implementation Plans (PIPs). State/UT-wise release and utilization of funds under NRHM Flexipool during the last three financial years and the current financial year (as on 30.9.2012) are enclosed at Annexure-VI.

Further, 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 Project (IDSP). At the national level, NCDC also coordinates laboratory support for outbreak investigations, besides conducting regular training courses for development of trained manpower.