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MCD fails to check water-borne diseases

By Sandeep Joshi

NEW DELHI DEC. 8. The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's Health Department has failed to control water-borne diseases, particularly cholera and gastro-enteritis. The department's annual report for 2001, prepared by the Corporation's Bureau of Health Intelligence, indicates that there has been no let up in the cases of two diseases during the past two to three years. Moreover, there has been no remarkable improvement in maintaining food hygiene in public eateries due to lack of vigilance.

The disease surveillance information collected from different MCD hospitals and dispensaries shows that a total of 1,267 cholera cases and 69,139 cases of gastro-enteritis, though sans any deaths, were reported during the year which shows that despite taking various measures, as claimed by the Corporation, the city remained in the grip of water-borne diseases particularly during summer and monsoon.

Notably, the cases of cholera rose from 959 in 2000 to 1,267 in 2001. However, cholera cases were much higher in 1999 (1,396 cases) and 1998 (1,903 cases with eight deaths), though there were only 956 cases in 1997. But the fact remains that several cholera cases go unreported.

While in the case of gastro-enteritis the picture is even more bad as its cases has been rising since 1997 when 44,504 patients were admitted to hospitals of which 11 had died. In 1998, gastro cases shot up to 66,313 of which 15 succumbed to the disease. Year 1999 saw further increase in the disease as well as deaths as of the 68,250 patients 21 deaths were reported. In 2000, though the number of gastro cases again increased to 69,287 but no death was registered in the MCD hospitals.

Ironically, the MCD's drive to maintain food hygiene at places where eatables are sold also took a beating in 2001 as not only its raids but also in seizure of items.

While over 3,000 raids were conducted by the Health Department 1999 and around 3,500 in 2000, the number of raid cases came down to 2,500 in 2001. Similarly, seizure of water trolleys and quantity of food destroyed also registered a sharp decline in 2001.

The report says that ORS packets were distributed to patients at all major hospitals, dispensaries and mobile units besides distribution of chlorine tablets.

Interestingly, while over 1 crore chlorine tablets were distributed in 2000, distribution picked up momentum in 2001 when over 4.5 crore chlorine tablets were distributed.

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