Diarrhoea dwarfs malaria, civic body turns a blind eye

If the figures collected from public hospitals are to be believed, the BMC needs to seriously think of the increasing number of people being affected by diarrhoea in the city.

The data collected by Praja foundation — a Mumbai-based voluntary organisation — from 25 BMC hospitals, four state hospitals and BMC dispensaries under the RTI Act shows that in last three years, the number of diarrhoea cases has gone up. Nitai Mehta, managing trustee, Praja Foundation said, “The number of diarrhoea cases was 60% more in period of July-September 2010 than in July-September 2009.”

Now that the monsoon already in the city, Mehta said, “The incidence of diarrhoea peaks during the rainy season. That is why it’s important for civic authorities to start an active campaign. It’s a combination of factors such as drinking contaminated water, eating roadside food, lack of sanitation and personal hygiene which result in diarrhoea,” added Mehta. The rising number of diarrhoea cases has been seen even in private hospitals.

Rajul Patel, chairman of health committee, BMC said, “The administration was suppose to take strict action on roadside eatery joints, one of the main contributors towards rising number of diarrhoea cases. It has also been promising clean drinking water. Sadly it has failed on both the fronts.”

The BMC’s health department brings out a circular advising people to refrain from eating outside food. But apart from this warning, the BMC refused to talk about the reasons of rising diarrhoea cases and the steps that they are planning to take.