Report on an awareness session on Raising Awareness: Health Impact of Wastewater Utilization
Date: 8th April 2024
Venue: Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Daulah
Event Type: Awareness Session
Mode of Activity: Offline
Target Group: School students (9th to 12th standard)
Coordinators: Dr Mina Kumari (NSS member) and Neeraj Kumari (NSS Coordinator)
Organized by: NSS, K R Mangalam University, Gurugram
Participants during awareness session: Approximately 32 school students and 34 NSS volunteers
Introduction:
Wastewater has daily emerged from various activities like households, agricultural, and industrial, with huge hydraulic loads and diverse compositions. Effluents of those different sectors contain organic carbon, nitrogenous organics, inorganics, suspended/dis•solved solids, and heavy metals which directly or indirectly impact human health, aquatic life and environment. Therefore, to raise awareness among students about harmful effect of wastewater, NSS K. R. Mangalam University organized an awareness session on ‘Health Impact of Wastewater Utilization’ at Govt. Sr. Sec. School, Daulah on 8th April 2024.
Objectives:
The objective of the awareness session was to inform pakticipants about the potential health consequences associated with the utilization of wastewater and to promote understanding and action towards mitigating these risks.
Content:
The session was started by Dr Neeraj Kumari, NSS coordinator, where she informed the students about the motive to organize the session and emphasized using clean water for daily use. The skit
was performed with the objective of educating the school students about the potential risks posed by the indiscriminate use of contaminated water and advocating for sustainable and safe water management practices.
The skit illustrated a imaginary community struggling with water scarcity issues. Due to the scarcity of clean water sources, the villagers resorted to utilizing wastewater for various purposes such as irrigation, bathing, and cooking. Initially, the villagers seemed oblivious to the health hazards posed by the contaminated water.
As the skit progressed, the consequences of using wastewater became apparent as members of the community began to fall ill with waterborne diseases such as cholera, typhoid, and gastroenteritis. The portrayal of individuals suffering from these ailments served as a stark reminder of the detrimental effects of consuming or coming into contact with contaminated water.
Following the skit, the NSS volunteers engaged with the audience to diséuss the key takeaways and implications highlighted in the performance. They emphasized the importance of ensuring access to clean and safe water sources to safeguard public health and prevent waterborne diseases. The volunteers also shared practical tips and solutions for mitigating the risks associated with wastewater utilization, including promoting water treatment methods, advocating for proper sanitation practices, and raising awareness about the importance of wastewater management and recycling.
The skit received a positive response from the audience, with many expressing appreciations for the creative and impactful way in which the message was conveyed. In the last, Dr Neeraj shared some real-life examples of health issues faced by people due to the use of wastewater. She also told some simple and ease handling techniques to purify the water.
Conclusions:
The awareness session aimed to empower participants with knowledge about the health impact of wastewater utilization and to inspire collective action towards promoting safe and sustainable water management practices. By raising awareness and fostering community engagement, the session sought to contribute to the protection of public health and the environment.
Event outcome:
The session succeeded in increasing participants’ awareness of the potential health risks associated with the utilization of wastewater. Participants acquired valuable knowledge about waterborne diseases commonly transmitted through wastewater, including cholera, typhoid fever, hepatitis, and gastroenteritis. They also learned about the symptoms, preventive measures, and the importance of early intervention in mitigating these health risks.
Glimpes
NSS volunteers of K.R. Mangalam University are interacting with school students during the awareness session on wastewater utilization.
A student speaker addressing the audience on the importance of safe wastewater management and health awareness.
Group photograph of NSS volunteers and faculty members with participants after the successful completion of the awareness session.
NSS team and school students pose together to mark the success of the awareness programme on wastewater utilization and health impact.
