Fight the widespread menace of waterborne diseases

Before independence open defecation was a common practice in many parts of India. Little has changed in the last 59 years. Communities belonging to tribal and semi-tribal area of Thane District still follow the unhygienic practice of relieving themselves in open, near the sources of water causing drinking water to be contaminated with human waste. As per details released by UNICEF, one gram of faeces can contain – 10,000,000 viruses, 1,000,000 bacteria, 1,000 parasite cysts, 100 parasite eggs. Protecting drinking water from faecal contamination by following home hygiene practices such as sanitary use of toilets and washing hands with soap or ash is the only means to fight the widespread menace of waterborne diseases.