Amoebic meningoencephalitis: What is chloroscope? Health department’s new directives

Alappuzha: The Health department and the local self-government institutions have strengthened their preventive measures and campaigns as the number of amoebic meningoencephalitis cases has increased in the state. For instance, in Alappuzha, inspections are regularly conducted to see whether the swimming pools in the resorts, hotels and homestays are chlorinated. The health department stated that public water bodies, as well as the wells in homes and educational institutions, are also being chlorinated.

Besides, the department has been instructed to chlorinate the swimming pools daily. Meanwhile, health workers say that it is practically impossible to chlorinate huge ponds and water bodies regularly. They explained that the residents are being advised against getting into these water bodies.

Chlorination of wells not completed
The government had directed the conduct of a mass chlorination drive in all the wells in the state on August 30 and 31. However, many local self-government institutions have not yet completed this drive. The chlorination drive is conducted by the local self-government institutions with the help of ASHA workers, Anganwadi workers, Kudumbasree workers, Haritha Karma Sena, MGNREG labourers and various NGOs. Meanwhile, the bleaching powder and chlorination tablets were supplied by the local self-government institutions.

Chloroscope
Although the resorts and hotels have been directed to chlorinate their swimming pools daily, most health centres do not have a chloroscope, an equipment used to measure the amount of chlorine in water, particularly swimming pools and drinking water. The hotels are instructed to chlorinate the pools so that there is 0.5 grams of chlorine in a litre of water. Although the chloroscope was available at health centres, most of them have been damaged due to a lack of usage. Meanwhile, the health department said that all primary health centres have been directed to purchase chloroscope as soon as possible.

Cleaning wells is important
Chlorinating the wells and tanks in which drinking water is stored is a crucial step in mitigating the risk of amoebic meningoencephalitis. The health department states that chlorination can eliminate harmful microorganisms and protect you from other waterborne diseases.