Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Asgar Hassan Samoon Monday said that Kashmir valley will soon be open defecation free and measures are being taken to meet the target at the earliest. Samoon said this while chairing a meeting convened to review the preventive measures being taken to check Jaundice in Chekiwangund village in Kulgam district.The meeting was attended by Principal GMC Srinagar Dr. Qaiser, Director Health Services Kashmir, Dr Sameeer Matoo, Chief Engineer PHE and officials of Rural Sanitation.Director Health Kashmir informed the Divisional Commissioner that a team of doctors and experts of Integrated Disease Surveillance Program (IDPS) led by CMO Kulgam visited affected areas and collected two water samples and 35 blood samples from the people.
He said eight blood samples were tested to be Hepatitis E positive and patients have been put on treatment. He said no pregnant lady has been affected in the village with population of 1545 souls.The Director said the outbreak of jaundice is water borne and open defecation may be the cause of the outbreak. He said people have been informed to take preventive measures and use safe drinking water and dispose off the sanitary waste properly. He said door to door survey was conducted in the area and people were made aware regarding prevention and transmission modes of viral Hepatitis.Principal GMC Srinagar Dr Qaisar said the GMC has also collected water samples from the village and the results are awaited.
The Divisional Commissioner appealed the people to avoid defecation in open in order to prevent contamination of water sources. He said measures are being taken by the government to make the state defecation free by the end of this year and more Individual Household Latrines (IHL) will be constructed in villages. He directed the concerned authorities to ensure pure drinking water to the people of the village.Officers of the Rural Sanitation informed the Divisional Commissioner that 1.33 lakh IHL have been constructed during the current financial year out of which 240 IHLs were constructed in Chek-wanigund village.Chief Engineer PHE said the department has submitted a proposal of a water supply scheme at the cost of Rs 6.80 crores for revival of water supply to various villages.