ESSENCE - International Journal for Environmental Rehabilitation and Conservation

Matta and Kumar/VIII [2] 2017/95 – 101

Volume VIII [2] 2017 [95 – 101] [ISSN 0975 - 6272]
[www.essence-journal.com]

Role of Science and Communication in health and Hygiene: A case study

Matta, Gagan and Kumar, Avinash

Received: June 22, 2017  Accepted: October 27, 2017  Online: December 31, 2017

Abstract

Science and communication is the successful Clean Ganga Drive, as Haridwar is the first
dissemination of knowledge to a wide range city where the River Ganga start flowing into
of audiences, from specialist scientists plains in static form. After completion of the
through public speakers, subject experts, study, in survey the audience were reported
medical practitioners to the public. The more updated in their knowledge and are
overall aim of the translating science and taking much more and more precautions for
health communication research study was to themselves and for their family. There was
support the optimal use and development of more in number of participants were attending
health communication activities for the the workshops.
prevention and control of communicable
Keywords: Science | Communication | health
diseases in Haridwar district. This study
| hygiene | Industrial complexes | Uttarakhand
consisted various strands of work: mainly
sharing scientific information regarding Introduction
human health hygiene, water hygiene and
Problems of the environment and of domestic
environment protection through workshops,
hygiene are always related to poverty of
camps, lectures, board-holdings and banners
population and the sanitation of settlements.
etc. for better audio-video communication to
Most cities and towns in developing countries,
the labour of different commercial sectors,
like India, are characterized by over-
tourists and local people. The current study
crowding, congestion, inadequate water
helped in spreading the awareness to live safe
supply and inadequate facilities of disposal of
from unhygienic activities and diseases
human excreta, waste water and solid wastes.
symptoms and also give message among
Inadequacy of housing for most urban poor
masses about the Swachh Bharat Mission and
invariably leads to poor home hygiene.
For Correspondence: Personal and domestic hygiene practices
Department of Zoology and Environmental Science,
cannot be improved without improving basic
Gurukula Kangri Vishwavidyalaya, Hariwwar, India amenities, such as water supply, waste water
Email: [email protected]
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disposal, solid waste management and the community and may not fit the traditions or
problems of human settlements. But even conditions of the community. Sometimes they
under the prevailing conditions, there is create more problems than they solve!
significant scope of improving hygiene The diseases caused by germs from poor
practices at home to prevent infection and hygiene and sanitation will not be prevented if
cross-infection. Unfortunately, in developing people are blamed for their own poor health,
countries, public health concerns are usually or if only technical solutions are promoted. To
raised on the institutional setting, such as improve health in a lasting way, health
municipal services, hospitals, environmental promoters must listen carefully and work
sanitation, etc. There is a reluctance to together with people in the community. When
acknowledge the home as a setting of equal communities use hygiene and sanitation
importance along with the public institutions methods that fit their real needs and abilities,
in the chain of disease transmission in the they will enjoy better health (Kartha, 2014;
community. Khanna and Matta, 2009).
Managers of home hygiene and community India is a country where Atomic Age and near
hygiene must act in unison to optimise return Stone Age people co-exist. On one hand India
from efforts to promote public health. Current has achieved development in many areas, but
practices and perceptions of domestic and on the other hand there is still the practice of
personal hygiene in Indian communities, the open defecation and manual cleaning of
existing levels of environmental and peri human excreta from bucket privies by
domestic sanitation and the ‘health risk’ these scavengers. National sanitation coverage is
pose will be outlined, as well as the need for only about 34% meaning that 66% of the
an integrated action for improving hygiene population practices open defecation. Such
behaviour and access to safe water and unhygienic conditions lead to infections and
sanitation (Nath, 2010). high mortality and morbidity in the
Many diseases are spread from person to community. Low sanitation coverage could be
person by germs in feces. Some experts due to lack of affordable sanitation technology
believe health problems from poor sanitation and awareness or motivation. Although the
can be prevented only if people change their sewerage system was introduced in India long
personal habits, or “behaviors,” about staying ago, high operational and maintenance costs
clean. But this idea often leads to failure have prohibited it from being-implemented in
because it does not consider the barriers that most towns and cities. Similarly, the cost of a
people face in their daily lives, such as poverty septic tank is beyond most people, and
or lack of access to clean water. Then when disposal of undigested sludge from septic
behavior does not change, people are blamed tanks remains a problem. In contrast, the pour-
for their own poor health (SULIVER 2016). flush two-pit toilet (known as Sulabh
Other experts look for technical solutions, Shauchalaya) is a low cost, socially acceptable
such as modern toilets that flush water. and appropriate technology that does not
Technical solutions often come from outside a require scavengers to clean the pits. Sulabh
has converted and constructed over 1.2
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million such toilets throughout India, making Science education provides the foundation for
240 towns scavenger-free. Liberated science communication. The more that people
scavengers are thereby available to take up know about a science (e.g., physics), the easier
vocational training in various market-oriented it will be to explain the facts that matter in
trades enabling self-employment. The on-site specific decisions (e.g., energy policy). The
decentralised systems of waste management more that people know about the scientific
has improved community health and hygiene, process, the easier it will be for science
particularly in socially deprived groups, and communications to explain the uncertainties
reduced the financial burden of local and controversies that science inevitably
government (Jha, 2003). produces (Fischhoff, 2013).
The goal of science communication is not There are number of agencies and Govt.
agreement, but fewer, better disagreements. If Schemes working in the proposed field in
that communication affords people a shared number of areas. These agencies do not have
understanding of the facts, then they can focus expertise workers, which know how to teach
on value or demonstrate but they are only doing so what
issues, such as how much weight to give to the literature are provide them from their
nature, the poor, future generations, or offices. These documentation is made only
procedural issues in a specific decision. To with the part-time experts of visiting experts
realize that potential, however, people need a which generally not up the mark. Schemes
venue for discussing value issues. Otherwise, which are proposed for the conservation and
those issues will percolate into discussions of mass awareness are implemented but due to
science (Dietz, 2013). For example, if health lack of regular expert man power these
effects have legal standing in a facility-siting schemes not get expected outcome which are
decision, but compensation does not, then expected. There are many cases where due to
local residents may challenge health effect unhygienic water number of cattle has died in
studies, when their real concern is money. same village in a same time. Many type of
Science communication cannot succeed when chronic diseases is being reported in the
people feel that attacking its message is the nearby villages and residential. In all these
only way to get redress for other concerns area major need of awareness is required for
(Löfstedt et al., 2002). the betterment of local people through various
Because science communication seeks to modes.
inform decision making, it must begin by According to Goh et al. (2008), effective
listening to its audience, to identify the science communication requires attention to
decisions that its members face—and, the messages that are to be conveyed that
therefore, the information that they need. In depends on the “art” of communication,
contrast, science education begins by listening allowing adequate time to produce science
to scientists and learning the facts that they communication products that includes time
wish to convey (Klahr 2013). for feedback and revision. Good science
communication requires attention to both the

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science and the presentation. In general than 400 industries (approx.) with thousands
practice, the vast majority of the effort by of workers, residential colonies nearby
scientists is in the collection and analysis of factories, small villages, schools, etc. are
data, with little time or resources devoted to established. All this colony from industries to
the communication of science. Rather than residential require major awareness in context
science communication being an afterthought, of human health risk and environmental
factoring in the time and resources that are quality and water hygiene (Arora et al. 2014).
needed for developing a quality The current study deals with mass awareness
communication product is recommended. to industrial labours, local residential,
Commercial complexes are the major cause of villagers in nearby industrial area and tourists
different kinds of pollutants especially when coming from across the country for a better
the industrial setup not having the proper hygienic survival (Matta and Kumar, 2017).
management of discharge of wastes (Arora et Study Area
al. 2017; Matta et al. 2016). The cities like
Haridwar District covering industrial
Haridwar, Rishikesh known internationally
complexes, nearby schools, community
for their spirituality, peace, rich biodiversity
places, University.
and natural beauty are now getting polluted
with kinds of commercial complex setups Activities conducted
(Matta et al. 2015; Matta and Uniyal 2017;
 On the regular basis workshops, Camps are
Matta 2010). Before 2000, there were only
organized in various educational
small industrial setups but after the creation of
complexes.
Uttarakhand from Uttar Pradesh on 9th
 Information was shared in terms of Audio
November 2000 and becoming a new state,
Visual mode to individual for water
hundreds of factories have been established.
conservation, precautionary measure of
In 2002, Government of Uttarakhand
water hygiene.
Enterprise, was incorporated as a Limited
 Medical camps are organized for the
Company in the year 2002 with providing
residential colonies of Knowledge will be
financial assistance in the shape of debt,
given to industrial labors that how to be
equity, venture capital, develop infrastructure
safe from pollution water and other toxic
and assist private initiative in Industry and
chemical in water and air in factories.
Infrastructure and implement, manage
 Live demos were organized in different
projects and provide specialized financial,
complexes and community areas to update
consultancy and construction and all such
locals living around industrial areas to
other activities to promote industries and
share and update the precautionary
develop Industrial Infrastructure in the State
knowledge with locals how to make water
of Uttarakhand directly or through Special
clean before drinking and other uses living
Purpose Vehicles, Joint Ventures, assisted
near to industrial sites.
companies etc. which attracted many
companies towards Uttarakhand to setup their
industries/factories. Presently, there are more
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 In Public places, tourist areas, in nearby people also that how to be safe from the
colonies boards and holdings were hanged unhygienic symptoms and diseases
for share the information in visual mode. symptoms. The study had given a boost to the
awareness in holy place like Haridwar which
Conclusion
is under a future coming pressure of unsafe
During the course of study communicating the water. If water bodies are unhygienic what
scientific knowledge in terms of health and will the future of people living in Haridwar
hygiene, water hygiene and environmental and millions of tourists coming to Haridwar.
conservation is one of the most effective This will also affect the River Ganga which is
method for the awareness and mass counted as the life line of India as the unsafe
upgradation of basic understanding. Effective water finally submerges in holy River Ganga.
science communication is the successful At all the holy places where tourist visit large
dissemination of knowledge to a wide range number, number of holdings were hanged to
of audiences, from specialist scientists aware people about hygiene, keep water clean
through public speakers, subject experts, etc. The current study also helped in spreading
medical practitioners to the public. Today the message among masses about the Swachh
both doing science and communication to Bharat Mission and Clean Ganga Drive, as
community are equally important demonstrate Haridwar is the first city where the River
the solution of daily problems of health and Ganga start flowing into plains in static form.
hygiene. A scientist usually cannot be 100% After completion of the study a survey was
certain, which is problematic to those conducted to check the level of understanding
responsible for decision-making. However, of the peoples who were asked to attend the
with appropriate communication tools, it is various workshops and camps. We were
possible for scientists to better explain their surprised to see that the school going children
messages to a broader audience—creating and students of university and other young
greater understanding and demystifying both ones have come with more update in their
scientific knowledge and the scientific knowledge and are taking much more and
process. Only when this is achieved by more precautions for themselves and for their
effective science communication will the family. The difference between the initial
relevance of science increase to society in level of understanding of students coming into
general. the workshops have risen and while
The current study was designed to deals with completion of the study and after the study
the problems like Health Risk Safety, Water there was more in number for the workshops
Hygiene and Water Conservation Awareness for attending and for the participation to keep
etc. among villages, residential and factory their viewpoint. It clearly indicates that the
labours in Haridwar District. During the study upcoming generation is now understating the
period we addressed the problem by importance of environmental conservation,
community awareness by the workshops, water hygiene, health risk, only the right
medical camps, sharing information through communication is to be done.
lectures, community lectures, etc. to nearby
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Today we are in a state where health is one of commercial complex at Haridwar,

the most important factor for which each and India,” Journal of Applied and Natural
every individual is struggling and fighting for Science 6(2): 825 – 843.
quality of life and survival. This is not only the Dietz, T. (2013): “Bringing values and
today’s need but it is the need of tomorrow, deliberation to science
and studies like these are the base not for the communication,” Proc Natl Acad Sci
future studies but for the future of human kind. USA. 110, 14081–14087.
Today water conservation, hygiene are Fischhoff, Baruch (2013): “The sciences of
worldwide issues which need to be addressed
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and major attention has to be given towards
Acad Sci USA. 110, 14033–14039.
this, otherwise there is not much time when
DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1213273110.
we have very low quality of environment and
Goh, B.; Pomsagun, A.; Le Tissier, M.;
its resources and human resources.
Dennison, W. C.; Kremer, H.H. and
Acknowledgement Weichselgartner, J. (2008): “Science
Authors are thankful to NCSTC Division, Communication in Theory and
Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of Practice,” LOICZ Reports and Studies
India, New Delhi for sanctioning the project. No. 31, 101 pages. LOICZ,
Authors are also highly thankful to Dr. Pamposh Geesthacht, Germany
Kumar, Scientist F, NCSTC Division, Department Jha, P. K. (2003): “Health and social benefits
of Science and Technology, Govt. of India, New
from improving community hygiene
Delhi for his continues Guidance and Support
and sanitation: an Indian experience,”
during the project.
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