New Delhi: The showers of monsoon are finally here to provide relief from the scorching summers but with this respite also comes the risk of water and vector borne diseases. Understanding the significance of vulnerability among school children, the SEEDS (Sustainable Environment and Ecological Development Society) as a part of its Honeywell Safe Schools Program has organized a workshop at Government Girls Senior Secondary School in Gandhi Nagar, East Delhi recently
India loses 73 million working days due to water-borne diseases, with Diarrhoea unfortunately being the leading killer, causing about 60% of all deaths. Each year around Monsoons, there is a drastic spike in vector borne diseases in Delhi. 44 cases of malaria, 10 cases of Chikungunya and 22 cases of Dengue have already been registered pre-monsoon, as per a recent report from the three municipal corporations of Delhi on Monday, 1st July, 2019.
Due to unhygienic conditions and not adhering to timely preventive measures during monsoons, there is a higher chance of children being infected with diseases like Diarrhoea, Malaria, Chikungunya, Dengue, skin infections, etc. In order to educate them and the community at large, SEEDS team along with Honeywell volunteers led discussions around adverse effects of such diseases. Participants were also oriented on issues of stagnant water, improper management and disposal of solid wastes which is home to a number of life threatening diseases.
As a part of the exercise, children were trained to identify possible breeding grounds in the area and mark places where they noticed water logging or accumulations of waste through puddle maps. They further practised usage of insecticides to stop mosquito breeding with the help of Municipal Corporation representatives. These children were additionally trained on methods of keeping germs at bay by emphasising on the importance of basic health and hygiene.SEEDS and Honeywell bring a tailor-made, child-first approach which takes care of the physical as well as psycho-social well-being of children under the Honeywell Safe Schools Program.
