Gujarat tests 6.91 lakh water samples in monsoon disease prevention drive
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
Gujarat has launched a large-scale monsoon health offensive, with more than 6.91 lakh drinking water samples tested for chlorination and over 84.38 lakh chlorine tablets distributed across the state since 15 June, according to the state Health Department. The drive is aimed at containing water-borne and vector-borne disease outbreaks during the rainy season.
Scale of the Operation
The department has deployed more than 17,000 medical and para-medical personnel across districts, conducting 4,655 medical camps where over 1.20 lakh patients received health check-ups and treatment. Alongside the testing push, leaks in more than 2,500 drinking water pipelines have been repaired to prevent contamination at source.
City-Level Breakdown
In Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation limits, 477 medical and para-medical teams examined 12,972 patients, while 73,858 water samples were tested and more than 5.46 lakh chlorine tablets distributed. In Surat Municipal Corporation limits, over 12.85 lakh chlorine tablets and more than 3.11 lakh ORS packets were handed out as part of public health measures. Junagadh district recorded 1,880 medical camps, with 37,943 patients undergoing detailed health examinations.
Government Oversight
The measures are being carried out under the supervision of Minister of State for Health Praful Pansheriya. Health Department officials noted that the intensified response reflects the heightened risk of waterborne and vector-borne illnesses that typically accompanies the monsoon months in Gujarat.
Advisory to Citizens
The Health Department has urged residents to consume only boiled or chlorinated drinking water during the monsoon. Citizens experiencing any health symptoms have been advised to immediately visit the nearest Primary Health Centre (PHC) or government medical camp for timely intervention. This comes amid a broader national pattern of monsoon-linked disease spikes, with states across India stepping up surveillance every year between June and September.