According to the latest update from Water Health International, “Two million people, most of them children, die annually due to preventable waterborne diseases”. Approximately 2 million children die each year due to water born diseases. Patients suffering from waterborne diseases occupy 50 percent of the world’s hospital beds. Risks posed by waterborne health complications are second only to malnutrition thereby, compounding the global disease burden.

Access to proper sanitation and safe drinking water is crucial for maintaining good health and this is especially important for children since children below 14 are most vulnerable to water born diseases. Water-borne diseases refer to those infectious diseases which are primarily spread through contaminated water. In developing countries, water-borne diseases account for four-fifths of all illness. Diarrhea diseases account for a considerable share of the total disease burden, and about ninety percent of this burden is reportedly attributable to the supply of unsafe drinking water coupled with improper sanitation, and poor hygiene. Malaria, the water born disease carried by mosquitoes, affects 400 million people and kills 5 million annually.

Cholera, dysentery, hepatitis and typhoid are some of the most common water-borne diseases affecting people in the tropical regions. Besides, diarrhea, respiratory troubles, skin irritation, and other diseases may also be caused by exposure to polluted water. The nature of the health problem depends on the pollutant present in the water body. Mosquitoes and other insects responsible for several diseases find an ideal habitat in stagnant water or other untreated water.

Chemicals in contaminated water lead to numerous health problems. A fluoride level in drinking water causes fluorosis, characterized by a mottling of the teeth surface; nitrate in drinking water reportedly causes blue baby syndrome among infants aged below six months; nitrate contamination can also increase cancer risk, as it can give rise to highly carcinogenic N-nitroso compounds; infants are at a great risk from the laxative effects produced by sulfate, if they abruptly switch over to drinking water having high sulfate concentrations.

Improper water resource management is the main factor responsible for waterborne epidemics and other health hazards. Therefore, a cleaner as well as healthier environment formed by proper water resource management is crucial for combating water-borne diseases. Community awareness is a key element in preventing the spread of water-borne diseases. Water supply should be checked properly and necessary steps should be taken to disinfect contaminated water. Water pipes need to be checked regularly for leaks and cracks. Domestically, the water should be used after boiling, filtering, or applying other purification method to ensure that the water used for consumption is safe.

Disability implies the inability or difficulty of a person to perform an act, which can be done by a group of people of the same age, sex, society and culture. As per United Nations report, 10 percent of population in underdeveloped countries is facing disabilities of one or the other type. If we include family members, advocates and all those affected by the problem of disabilities this is as high as 25 percent of population. Moreover, this number is constantly increasing through population, growth, medical advances and aging process. Because of isolation and dependent conditions especially on activities of daily living, it becomes hard for the disabled person to create his or her own identity. The individual may lack confidence to carry out new tasks mainly because of lack of exposure and shortage of opportunities. Hence, he may settle down unhappily and accept that he cannot do things like others.

A person’s disability may be due to any type of disablement, i.e., birth defects, sickness, diseases, industrial and road accidents or the stresses of war, work and daily life. Prenatal causes of disability include genetic conditions like Down’s syndrome, pregnancy beyond 35yrs or less than 18yrs etc. Infections, malnutrition, trauma, pregnancy associated with medical conditions like Diabetes, Hypertension, TB and mal-presentation of foetus are the main causes of disability arising out of delivery. Malnutrition, poor parenting, poor childhood experiences, child abuse etc causes disability after birth.

Common man always confuses the terms disability, handicap and impairment. Hence it is important to explain these three concepts. Impairment is any loss or abnormality of psychological, physiological or anatomical structure of function. Disability is any restriction or lack of ability to perform an activity in the manner or within the range considered normal for human being. Handicap is a disadvantage for a given individual, resulting from an impairment or disability that limits or prevents the fulfillment of a role that is normal, depending on age, sex, social and cultural factors, for that individual.

The various forms of rehabilitation include;

1. Medical rehabilitation: Treatment using medicine, surgery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and speech therapy.

2. Educational Rehabilitation: Providing education facilities to disabled people.

3. Vocational Rehabilitation: Help the victim to learn and develop vocational skills so that he can earn income.

4. Social rehabilitation – Social integration has been defined as the active participation of disabled and handicapped people in the mainstream of community life.

Though there are different strategies to deal with the people suffering from disability, the most important pillar is family support and care. Disability management needs long-term rehabilitation depending on the severity of the problem. Since, disability varies markedly from person to person in symptoms; treatment as well as rehabilitation needs to vary accordingly.