Ensuring safe water sources for people in flood-affected areas

This contribution will help provide approximately 15 million liters of clean water, ensuring safe drinking water for many days, for households and use in medical facilities in the eight most severely affected provinces: Bac Giang, Cao Bang, Dien Bien, Lai Chau, Lao Cai, Phu Tho, Thai Nguyen and Yen Bai.

According to Dr. Angela Pratt, WHO Representative in Vietnam, clean water is essential to help prevent water-borne and food-borne diseases, to help health facilities continue to operate safely and maintain patient care.

WHO recommends: After storms, ensure a safe water source, use bottled water, or if conditions permit, boil water for at least 1 minute.

To prevent common digestive diseases caused by unsafe water and food sources (diarrhea, dysentery, typhoid, hepatitis A), the Ministry of Health reminds people to ensure environmental hygiene and personal hygiene; eat cooked food and drink boiled water to ensure food safety and hygiene; ensure clean water for eating, drinking and daily activities; wash hands with soap before eating and after using the toilet; properly handle waste sources...

The Ministry of Health provides 3 steps to treat drinking water during storms and floods:

1. Clean water with alum or cloth (photo)

2. Disinfect with Cloramin B or a disinfectant product as instructed by the medical facility.

3. Boil disinfected water; then use for drinking.

Source: https://thanhnien.vn/dam-bao-nguon-nuoc-an-toan-cho-nguoi-dan-vung-bao-lu-185240914212015126.htm