Question : Water Borne Diseases

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) the number of persons suffering from water borne diseases and deaths caused therefrom in the country during each of the last three years and the current year, State/ UT-wise;

(b) whether the Government has conducted/proposes to conduct any survey of the areas having excess of fluoride and arsenic contamination;

(c) if so, whether the Government provides/proposes to provide medical facility to the people in these areas including the treatment to the organs affected by it;

(d) the details of the financial and technical assistance provided to the States/ UTs to effectively respond to health problems arising from consumption of contaminated drinking water in the country; and

(e) the other steps taken/being taken by the Government to address the issue?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE
(SHRI JAGAT PRAKASH NADDA)
(a) to (e): Consumption of contaminated drinking water can cause diseases such as Cholera, Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), Viral Hepatitis etc. As per the data reported by Central Bureau of Health Intelligence (CBHI), State/UT- wise number of cases and deaths due to Cholera, Acute Diarrhoeal Diseases, Enteric Fever (Typhoid), and Viral Hepatitis during the years 2013-2015 are given at Annexure I.

As per Integrated Management Information System (IMIS) of Ministry of Drinking Water & Sanitation, there are about 11,286 fluoride affected habitations in 19 States and 1311 Arsenic affected habitations in 6 States as on 16.02.2016. As per school and community surveys conducted by States, 23,102 Fluoride cases have been reported so far.

Provision of safe drinking water is the main strategy to control diseases caused by drinking of contaminated water. Rural water supply is a State subject. Government of India supplements the efforts of the States by providing technical and financial assistance under the centrally sponsored National Rural Drinking Water Programme(NRDWP) for providing safe and adequate drinking water supply facilities in rural areas of the country. 5% of NRDWP Funds are earmarked for support funds which are allotted to the States on 100% central share for activities such as IEC (Information, Education and Communication) for awareness generation, HRD (Human Resource Development) for capacity building and for MIS (Management Information System). Further, under NRDWP, 3% of funds allocated to the States are earmarked for Water Quality Monitoring and Surveillance (WQMS) activities on a 100% Central share basis which, inter alia, includes testing of drinking water sources at the Panchayat level by using simple field test kits, upgrading of existing water quality testing laboratories and setting up of new State/district/sub-district water quality testing laboratories wherever such facility is not available or needed.
Further, as informed by Ministry of Water Resources, River Development & Ganga Rejuvenation, an amount of Rs. 10 crore has been earmarked for IEC activities under the Information, Education & Communication component of HRD & Capacity Building Scheme for the year 2015-16.
Government of India started the National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF) in the 11th Five Year Plan. So far, 111 districts 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. Details of the fund released under NPPCF are given in Annexure II.

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. Details of funds released for the last three years and the current year State/UT wise are at Annexure III.

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.