Latest update December 30th, 2024 2:15 AM

Guyana's largest selling daily and New York's most popular weekly

Latest News

Govt. moves to enhance potable water

Aug 12, 2008 News

The Ministry of Health, in collaboration with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO), the US Centre for Disease Control (CDC), and Globe Manufacturing Drug Company, yesterday launched its new product, “Chloro- Sol the Water Guard”.

The new product was launched at the Leonora Government School, West Coast Demerara, and is aimed at contributing to the reduction in water-borne diseases, especially among the vulnerable communities.
Chloro-Sol, commonly referred to as “The Water Guard”, is to be used to purify drinking water.

The product is being bottled in a container similar to that of the small bottle of Marvex bleach. It was explained that one cap of the solution can be used to purify five gallons of water.

The water guard can only purify water from taps and wells, and not water from the creeks and rivers.
The product will be sold at a price of no more than $85, and will soon be available at stores countrywide.

At the launching yesterday, PAHO Country Representative Dr. Kathleen Israel said that, before the product was introduced, a survey was done to determine which households needed the most assistance, which were more vulnerable and most at risk of contracting water-borne diseases.

The survey has since found that 1,200 households in Region Three need the support. The study targeted households that have mainly small children who need safe water, since it was noted that children are more susceptible to infections and develop diarrhoeal diseases easily.

“Water is good for you; but, at the same time, if the water is not safe, it is bad for you. It is unsafe water that can cause you to become sick from diarrhoeal diseases, and if you don’t get help quickly you can die from these diseases,” Dr. Israel said.

The solution is being manufactured by Globe Company, and according to Health Minister Dr. Leslie Ramsammy, each batch of the product will be tested so as to ensure that it meets the relevant standards and to make sure that the Globe Company does not manufacture any inferior product.

Research shows that, each year, approximately 1.7 million people die from water-borne diseases globally; while every day, close to 5,000 children die from infectious diarrhoeal diseases due to unsafe drinking water.

Meanwhile, Chief Executive Officer of the Guyana Water Incorporated (GWI), Karan Singh, said that the water company is currently in the process of providing safe water to persons living in the hinterland communities.

He explained that GWI will soon introduce a Bio Sand Filter for those in the hinterland, since these persons usually drink water from canals and streams.

Singh noted that with the introduction of the Bio Sand Filter, it will make the water safe for them to drink, and to prevent any diarrhoeal diseases.

It was also announced that the Ministry of Health will soon move to ban the construction of pit latrines in certain communities.

According to Minister Ramsammy, his ministry will be working along with the Central Housing and Planning Authority and the Bureau of Standards to ensure that communities that have access to running water do not construct or have any pit latrines in their yards.

Dr Ramsammy acknowledged that there are some communities which do not have a choice but to use pit latrines, as those areas don’t have access to running water. Those communities, he said, would not be targeted.

However, he explained, persons living in those areas will have to construct their pit latrines to meet certain standards, which would be stipulated by the Ministry of Health.

“This is not to make people’s lives more difficult, but to ensure that there are safer practices in our communities. This is just an indication of how we are going to transform communities,” Minister Ramsammy said.

Similar Articles

The Glenn Lall Show | December, 2nd, 2024

Follow on Tik Tok @Glennlall

THE BLUNT OF THE DAY

Sports

Dharry reigns supreme with second-round KO against Ramirez

Dharry reigns supreme with second-round KO against Ramirez

Dec 30, 2024

Kaieteur Sports- Guyanese bantamweight Elton Dharry rocked the Cliff Anderson Sports Hall on Saturday night, delivering a spectacular second round knockout against Colombian Randy Ramirez. Dharry...
Read More
Rutherford among nominees for ICC Men’s ODI Cricketer of the Year

Rutherford among nominees for ICC Men’s ODI...

Dec 30, 2024

Lumumba appointed Advisor to GBA

Lumumba appointed Advisor to GBA

Dec 30, 2024

K&S/One Guyana National Futsal Championships move closer to crowning inaugural champs

K&S/One Guyana National Futsal Championships...

Dec 30, 2024

Lewis, Gentle defend GTA One Guyana Open Tennis titles; each take home $400,000

Lewis, Gentle defend GTA One Guyana Open Tennis...

Dec 29, 2024

Zion Hickerson scores one-year sponsorship with ENet

Zion Hickerson scores one-year sponsorship with...

Dec 29, 2024

Features/Columnists

  • Consent is not a veto

    Peeping Tom… Kaieteur News- Bharrat Jagdeo, continues to muddle the discourse on the renegotiation of the Production... more

Publisher’s Note

Freedom of speech is our core value at Kaieteur News. If the letter/e-mail you sent was not published, and you believe that its contents were not libellous, let us know, please contact us by phone or email.

Feel free to send us your comments and/or criticisms.
Contact: 624-6456; 225-8452; 225-8458; 225-8463; 225-8465; 225-8473 or 225-8491.
Or by Email: [email protected] / [email protected]

Weekend Cartoon

Bridge Watch

Demerara Harbour Bridge

> Berbice Bridge […]