Irrigation water treatment stressed
Water from the Indus River has entered a housing society illegally built along the riverbank. PHOTO: NNI
Stomach diseases claim the lives of 60,000 people annually in Pakistan, disclosed speakers at a seminar aimed to raise awareness about gastroenteritis and promote preventive measures against the ailment.
University of Agriculture Agronomy Department Chairman Dr Abdul Khaliq called for ensuring water treatment before irrigating the fields, pointing out that wastewater was contaminating the agricultural produce and posing serious health hazards.
Dr Syed Aftab Wajid said water scarcity due to climate change had forced farmers to use poor quality wastewater.
Dr Fahd Rasul presented results from experiments about quantifying the transmission routes of gastroenteritis in Pakistan and developing targeted interventions. Social scientist Maria Khalid highlighted the wastewater irrigation impacts on health.
Faisalabad Medical University Assistant Professor Dr Irfan Mahmood highlighted the symptoms of acute gastroenteritis and precautionary measures.
Senior Tutor Dr Shaukat Ali stressed the latest trends of water treatment technologies.
Published in The Express Tribune, October 24th, 2023.