To ensure no water-borne disease spreads anywhere, the Public Health Department has decided to set up water sample testing laboratories at all District Headquarters Hospitals (DHHs) in the State. A total of Rs 9 crore has been earmarked for construction of lab-related infrastructure, recruitment and training of technicians. These laboratories would be equipped to test the quality of water and its pH level, said an official.
The official informed that the tender for procurement of equipment has been completed. The proposed labs would be operationalised in two to three months. In Khodha district, there would be two such labs, one already available in the Khordha DHH and another would come up at the Capital Hospital here. The PH department has also planned to set up an advanced lab at the Unit-IV Community Health Centre. This state-of-the-art laboratory will provide technical and other assistance to the DHH laboratories. The decision to set up water testing laboratories bears significance in view of large numbers of deaths occurring every year due to water-borne diseases like jaundice and diarrhea at different places of the State.