Water borne diseases:

No decline, yet no deaths

Nadira GUNATILLEKE

There was no decline seen in water borne diseases During the past few decades in Sri Lanka but there was a minimum number of deaths. There were almost zero deaths during the past but the spread of water borne diseases continued, Health Ministry Dr P G Mahipala said.

Addressing a press briefing held at the Health Education Bureau yesterday Dr Mahipala said by the end of 2009, 32 per cent of the population had safe drinking well water. Another 37 per cent had pipe borne water supplied by the Water Supply and Drainage Board. Around 10 per cent had tube well water. Around 95 per cent of urban population has access to pipe borne water.

Rain water harvesting in Sri Lanka is three per cent. The Water quality surveillance in Sri Lanka commenced in 2007 with the contribution of many parties including the Health Ministry and National Water Supply and Drainage Board, he added.

Health Ministry Epidemiology Unit Consultant Epidemiologist Dr Sudath Peris said the patients who suffer from water borne diseases do not die because of the high quality treatment available for then in Sri Lanka.

There is no decrease in water borne diseases. Now the public can get drinking water tested free by contacting the PHI of the relevant area, he added.