The hot season has begun in Myanmar, and the ill effects on health associated with this weather will inevitably place considerable burden on the healthcare system. To withstand the hot weather, the body needs to be well-hydrated with safe drinking water. Personal hygiene is also essential for well-being. Unfortunately, people living in some parts of the country do not have water delivered to their dwellings and rely on well water. Even this source may not be available in some parts of the country.
The WHO, in its February 2024 publication of Guidelines and Tools to enhance small water supplies, estimates that 2.2 billion people still lacked access to safe water supplies in 2022, despite globally administered concerted efforts to alleviate the problem. “Investing in small water supplies serves as a dual strategy to effectively reduce the incidence of water-borne diseases as well as lower the overall expenses related to the prevention of illness and associated healthcare costs”, said Dr. Maria Neira, Director, WHO’s Environment, Climate Change and Health Department. These guidelines include establishing drinking water quality regulations and standards that are health-based and content appropriate on proactively managing health risks through water safety planning and sanitary inspections and carrying out independent surveillance. “Political will, risk-based regulations and increased investment have proven effective in scaling up access to safe drinking water through small supplies”, said Bruce Gordon, Head of WHO’s Water Sanitation, Hygiene and Health Unit.
Sustainable targets therefore appear to be managing supply of small supplies self-administered, in the context of our country and the current situation. General Practitioners need to spearhead health education, acquisition of safe drinking water, purification of available. It is fortunate that donors always emerge from the populace to donate in terms of drinking water or cash, especially in the Myanmar New Year period,
The Editors wish all our readers, the communities they serve and the entire country a healthy, peaceful New Year 1386 BE.
