Expert urges Kaanwar Yatris to stay hydrated, maintain hygiene and consume clean food to prevent……
.....monsoon- related Ailments during the Kaanwar Yatra
Our veteran writer on Community Health and Principal Investigator-Association of Studies In Behavioural Sciences, *Dr Naresh Purohit advises Kaanwar Yatris to take necessary precaution during Pilgrimage!
Bhopal/Ujjain: With the annual Kaanwar Yatra set to begin in Ujjain (and Haridwar) today, amid th
e ongoing monsoon season, Disaster and Medical Emergency Expert urged pilgrims to stay hydrated, maintain hygiene and consume clean food to prevent monsoon- related illnesses during the journey.
Sharing his concern about the health challenges the Kaanwar pilgrims face during this period , Executive Member – Indian Medical Academy For Preventive Health Dr Naresh Purohit said that rain often leads to road congestion and travel difficulties, it also increases 
the risk of gastrointestinal illnesses such as indigestion, diarrhoea and gastroenteritis.
Noted Epidemiologist Dr Purohit warned that stagnant water following the monsoon can increase the risk of mosquito- borne diseases such as malaria, dengue and chickangunia in pilgrims .
He cautioned on the prevalence of scrub typhus and viral hepatitis during the season, saying these illnesses can cau
se fever, shock and liver-related complications i.e. Hepatitis A and jaundice in children.
Emphasising the importance of prevention, he advised pilgrims to wash their hands with soap before eating and maintain food hygiene.
” If the food that is consumed is unclean it can cause food poisoning ,” he added.
He averred that Madhya Pradesh witnesses significant spiritual tourism with the Kaanwar Yatra starting in Ujjain and Omkareshwar attracting a large number of devotees who collect Narmada water and offer it at the Jyotirlingas dedicated to Lord Shiva .
He further said that young pilgrims travelling on motorcycles and cars, the risk of accidents increases during the monsoon due to damaged and wet roads, congestion and speeding.
He stressed that pilgrims should be careful about the food they consume during the journey to avoid contamination and monsoon- related illnesses.
**Dr. Narresh Purohit-MD, DNB, DIH, MHA, MRCP(UK), is an Epidemiologist, 
and Advisor-National Communicable Disease Control Program of Govt. of India, Madhya Pradesh and several state Health organizations. He’s the Principle Investigator – Association of Studies In Behavioural Science), Dr. Purohit is also Advisor-National Mental Health Program .
