Local Government and Rural Development Department of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) will make elaborate arrangements for provision of drinking water in the rural areas of Islamabad in the wake of advent of summer season. According to details, Chief Commissioner Islamabad has directed the officials of concerned departments to make water supply schemes in the rural areas more effective catering the requirements of local community in a befitting manner. He directed the officials to hold meetings with local community and ensure proper water supply arrangements in the rural areas. The official source said that there are more than 70 water supply schemes in the rural areas.
IESCO has been also requested for smooth supply of electricity connection to these water supply schemes so that these can cater the needs of local community in an effective manner. The source said that few water supply schemes are non-functional due to various reasons and non-interest of water users committees. ICT officials have been directed to activate water users committees with the consent of local community and make these schemes functional. The source said that ICT also plans to install over dozen water filtration plants in the rural areas. The source said that estimated cost of Rs 26.650 millions have been allocated for up gradation of water supply scheme at Tarlai and Rs 30.947 million for up gradation of five water supply schemes in rural area of ICT. Water supply scheme at Kalinger costing Rs. 8.650 million will be started while Rs 48.600 millions have been allocated for schemes at Dhok Mango and adjoining areas of Kot Hathial.
Kids living with smokers more likely to miss school: study: Kids who live with smokers miss more days of school as compared to children who live in non-smoking households. The finding supports research showing how second-hand smoke negatively impacts respiratory health of children. For the study, researchers looked at days absent from school among 3,087 children ages 6 to 11. More than 14 percent lived with at least one smoker in the household, Health News Reported. This is a significant loss, especially, as Levy noted, “almost half of the smoking households in our study had low incomes,” which means those least able to afford the additional costs are affected by them.” Ailments associated with kids who live with smokers included chest colds and ear infections. Living with two or more smokers was linked to three or more ear infections in the previous 12 months. Kids in smoking households were more likely to have had a chest cold within two weeks of the interview.
Thirty-four percent of children absent from school lived with two smokers; 24 percent of absenteeism was associated with one indoor smoker. The authors concluded kids who skip school from illness linked to smoking in the home fall behind academically. Smoking at home not only harms kids’ health. It costs money from wages lost to caregivers and increases childhood morbidity. The financial burden of school absenteeism linked to kids who live with smokers is significant; especially considering half of the study participants were low-income. The study shows kids who live in homes with or more smokers have higher rates of school absenteeism than those who live in non-smoking homes. The finding is important and highlights the need for ongoing public education.
