DPH instructs on chlorination for prevention of monsoon illnesses

CHENNAI: The Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine highlighted the need for effective chlorination as one of the critical interventions required for prevention of diarrhoeal diseases and vector control during the monsoon seasons.

In order to prevent water borne diseases during the Northeast monsoon, he instructed the district health officials to follow instructions on water chlorination, chlorine testing and recommended chlorine levels in drinking water for the prevention of the outbreak of water borne diseases during the monsoon.

For the bleaching purposes, DPH issued instructions to add 33 percent bleaching powder at 4 grams per 1,000 litres of water. It should be taken in a bucket and made into a paste. Water should be added up to 70 percent of the bucket and mixed thoroughly. It should be transferred to another bucket after sedimentation and mixed in the overhead tanks or sump. The water can be used after one hour.

DPH advised the public to only use safe drinking water and drink boiled water. A letter from the directorate stated that frequent hand washing with soap and water is a must to prevent infections. If anyone develops fever or diarrhea, they should immediately seek health care in nearest Government Health facilities including medical camps.

"If any clustering of cases is noticed, with more than three cases in the same street or village, they should inform the nearby health facility or mobile team and public health control room on 044-29510400 and 044-29510500. If people notice any private tanker lorry collecting water in open pools/ open wells, it should be immediately informed to the public health control room since contaminated water is not safe. Broken pipe lines should be repaired and checked for any leakages by local bodies, " the instructions said.

Public is instructed to collect drinking water only after thorough cleaning from submerged bore-wells, sumps and open wells. The water logged in the sumps or overhead tanks should be drained out completely and should be scrubbed and washed with bleaching powder. After thorough scrubbing, the sump or overhead tank can be filled with water and water should be allowed to flow for at least five minutes in all taps to flush out the impurities.