Water-borne disease: concern voiced over rising human toll

The Consumer Rights Commission of Pakistan (CRCP) on Tuesday expressed grave concerns over heavy toll to human lives caused by contaminated water and urged the government to implement water policy sooner than latter. "We demand of the government to implement water and environment policy immediately rather doing only lip service to the nation," said Zahid Ali, Advocacy Officer of CRCP while speaking at a press conference.
He said the rate of water-borne diseases and deaths due to contaminated water has reached an alarming stage. Pakistan is one of those countries where most of citizens are deprived of safe drinking water. One-third of the total population has no access to safe drinking water and 76 percent people live without sanitation facilities, he added.
Consequently, he said, about 40 to 50 percent ailments and 60 percent hospital admissions are caused by contaminated water, inflicting huge losses to human and economic resources. According to the WHO, 60 percent infant deaths are related to contaminated water.
He told media persons that 51 deaths and 2800 serious ailments were reportedly caused by contaminated water in Lahore, Zhob and Muzaffarabad in the first week of July. Around 14,000 cases of skin disease have been registered only in Sindh due to contaminated water.
Commenting on recent deaths in Zhob, Lahore and Hyderabad, Zahid Ali lamented the fact that the government could have done a lot better by keeping a check on the quality of water and prompting people to take precautionary measures against water contamination.
The situation is worsening day-by-day as the government has been slow in the implementation of policies and legislative framework available to check water quality deterioration.
The CRPC demanded of the government to fulfil all its commitments to cover the whole population for the provision of safe drinking water till 2008.
Moreover, the first water policy waiting for the cabinet approval should be implemented sooner than latter. In addition, Safe Drinking Water legislation should be done as soon as possible to avoid or decrease any accidents and deaths due to water contamination.