Widespread Health Hazard in Kattankuduy

By: Khalid - Marzook

Currently there is an increase in diseases like cancer and Jaundice in Kattankduy. Specially, the number of children who fall sick in this region is alarmingly high. This sudden increase is causing great fear and panic among the local population of Kattankudy. This grave situation is mainly attributed to the deteriorating living condition worsened by an ultra dense population of the area. As a result of the population increase, the food hygiene and other health habits have been driven to a lower level.

Once instance where the food hygiene is concerned is the take away food sales in the small hotels here. Knowingly or unknowingly these people buy and sell these food items which are hygienically unsuitable. For instance the Samosa (a kind of pastry) is very popular among these people. This item is fried in the oil which is repeatedly used several times for the purpose. As a result, it is said that this oil is a cause for the fatal diseases above mentioned. We learn that the health authorities also warned of this danger. This is only one instance where the unscrupulous hoteliers misuse the innocence of the people. These vendors also profusely use a food taste-adder ( Aji no moto), which is already a prohibited substance.

There is also the danger of contamination of water due to the thickness in population whose waste materials are disposed of beneath their own dwellings. The wells which are shallow with clear water get easily contaminated by these waste materials. With no alternatives these people drink this water highly contaminated. We feel this condition is so severe and fatal that a remedy should be found sooner. If these people are made aware of these dangers, they may at least escape the calamity in the middle. Only possible rectification now, we assume, is that a campaign to educate them on these issues. We hope you would consider these facts and help us draw up a program to implement. For this purpose, we think it is better for people like you in the medical field itself to decide on procedures to start with. Then we can carry on what you have begun.

Concerned citizens in Kattankudy