With 350 children dying of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome AES in eastern Uttar Pradesh this year, a group of volunteers led by a doctor couple have taken a unique initiative to fight the disease.
Under the banner of Encephalitis Eradication Movement, Gorakhpur-based Dr RN Singh and his wife Dr Veena Singh are spreading awareness among the villagersnbsp;for using sun rays to kill entero-viruses in drinking water.
The AES is mainly causednbsp;by waterborne entero-viruses and contaminated water supply remains a major threat in the region for the spread of the virus.
Experts from the US Centre for Disease Control CDC, appreciated the simple and inexpensive technique of killing the virus during their recent visit to Gorakhpur.
After going through variousnbsp;studies conductednbsp;innbsp;othernbsp;countries, Singh found that if water is kept for four hours under direct sunlight, it can kill entero-viruses.
Subsequently, he began a campaign to spread awareness about the method. He told the villagers to collect water in a bucket, cover it with clean white cloth and keep it in the sun for four hours.
8220;The masses here are so poor that a majority cannot afford fuel to boil water,8221; Singh said. 8220;But there is no shortage of sunlight. The villagers should be told to use sunlight for disinfecting drinking water.8221;
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Last month, the couple travelled across Gorakhpur and adjoining districts like Maharajganjnbsp;and persuaded villagers to adopt the technique. It has already been used effectively in the villages of Samardhira and Ranipur innbsp;Maharajganj districtnbsp;and Sumersagarnbsp;in Gorakhpur.
Dr Veena said: 8220;Since a majority of the affected children belong to poor families, this method can offer them huge respite, if not 100 per cent protection.8221;
The US experts have shown interest in supporting the cause, Singh said. He is now seeking help from various quarters to spread awareness about this technique.
8220;Since my reach isnbsp;extremely limited,nbsp;I am trying to get the support of CDC in conducting research and finding out the exact time needed to kill such viruses. I will also write to the Centre and the state government to include the method under the National Rural health Mission,8221; he added.
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Officials of the Health department said theynbsp;were not aware of the technique.
8220;We have not heard that sun rays can killnbsp;entero-viruses. We have to consult experts about its efficacy beforenbsp;making any comment on it,8221; said Dr VS Nigam, Joint Director, Communicable Diseases Wing of the department.
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