'Rihab diarrhoea cases do not signal new water crisis' -- district official
Jordan Times
Aug. 5, 2007
Hani Hazaimeh
AMMAN -- The emergence of 11 diarrhoea cases over the weekend in the Rihab District of Mafraq does not constitute another water pollution crisis in the governorate, a district official said on Saturday.
Only five cases were registered at the Rihab Health Centre yesterday from the district's 33 villages, which have a total population of 25,000 inhabitants, Rihab District Governor Adnan Otoom told The Jordan Times on Saturday.
The new cases did not have the same symptoms as citizens of the nearby Mansheyet Bani Hassan, Mafraq acting Health Director Mohammad Shawaqfeh stressed, adding that unclean water provided by some tankers could be the culprit.
"All cases registered at the Rihab Health Centre had diarrhoea, but no high fever," Shawaqfeh said.
More than 1,000 cases of diarrhoea and high fever, which were registered in the village and surrounding areas last month, were attributed to a nonfatal parasite.
According to the official, health teams responded immediately after the emergence of these cases by testing samples from the town's water sources, which were found to be uncontaminated.
"As a precautionary measure, we provided Rihab Health Centre with an additional laboratory technician to work the nightshift," he added.
Water authorities on Saturday made an exception in the water distribution schedule and resumed pumping water to the area, which was suffering from an acute shortage, according to Otoom.
Over the past three days, a total of 35 water tankers from the Jordan Armed Forces, in addition to five sent by Jordan Telecom Group, provided residents of 12 villages in the province with their water needs, he said.
"Prices per water tanker topped JD50 before the Army started providing citizens with water, the reason why some citizens started looking for other sources such as blue tankers," Rihab Health Centre Director Amer Ayasrah told The Jordan Times.
Water authorities had suspended pumping water to the area since the water pollution crisis on July 15, which compelled citizens to seek other sources, he said.
He added that it was possible that the new cases were caused by unclean water supplied for agriculture and construction purposes.
Meanwhile, health teams yesterday started distributing leaflets containing instructions on water use, Ayasrah said.
"We also started holding seminars in order to raise awareness among citizens, besides explaining the difference between green and blue water tankers," he added.
Green tankers are entitled to carry potable water to citizens while blue tankers supply water for agriculture and construction purposes.
Ministry of Water and Irrigation Spokesperson Adnan Zu'bi said water authorities provide potable water tankers with documents stating the time and date they were filled, and urged citizens to ask for them.
He added that water distribution to all areas in the northeastern parts of the Kingdom would be back to normal by the end of the week.