Dr. P K Sasidharan
Please read a write up in The Hindu on drowning as a public health issue on 19th September 2024
Is drowning the only neglected public health crisis to be solved in India?
When we ourselves are drowning in the sea of so many diseases which we haven’t controlled, there is no point discussing drowning in water as a public health crisis
Ignoring the preventive measures for drowning shows our general attitude towards public health. Public health is the science and art of preventing diseases and promoting health with organised community efforts.
Compared to those uncontrolled preventable diseases mentioned below, drowning is only a minor public health issue in India but we can stop drowning completely by using common sense and good engineering policies.
There are more serious and mammoth public health issues about which no one really cares or is concerned about- these are genuinely more important priorities and hence this small write up
1. If we provide potable water through pipes to all buildings and every household we can stop the deaths of thousands every year ( number of lives saved will be several hundred times than that of drowning) Diseases like Typhoid, cholera, dysentery and viral hepatitis are purely due to ignoring and neglecting this simple public health initiative. By providing piped potable water we can also avoid the suffering of several millions. Providing potable water through secure pipes is more important than piped LPG.
2. If we have proper waste segregation, proper waste disposal and proper management plans we can prevent deaths of another several thousands and sufferings of several millions of people. Diseases like Malaria and Dengue fever which together takes several thousand lives every year are purely due to negligence in waste management and environmental hygiene.
3. Lack of proper diet or wrong diet is one of the primary reasons for all infections and diseases like cancers and autoimmune diseases which kills millions
4. People eating excess carbohydrates under the influence of misleading advertisements and influence by celebrities is the primary reason for gulping excess carbohydrates in the form of fast foods and sugary foods and finally putting on weight which leads to diseases like diabetes, hypertension, fatty liver and consequent organ damages which in turn leads to unforeseen expenses for costly treatments like dialysis and transplantation. These costly treatments depletes the meagre resources needed for more urgent public health services- we also waste meagre resources by setting up unscientific wellness centres
5. We are unmindful of providing the most needed public places like foot paths, cycle paths and play grounds for exercise.
Drowning is just nothing as compared to these neglected huge public health issues and that is also the reason why we are comfortably ignoring such preventive measure: Public health is a neglected orphan in India. We are not bothered about public health in India- we are busy setting up state of the treatment facilities and wellness centres for the rich and influential people.
Is drowning a major public health problem in India?
