Preserving every smile
Because every child deserves safe drinking water
Children below 8 years of age are at higher risk of developing fluorosis if they are exposed to too much fluoride over a long period of time. Fluorosis can lead to anything from mild discoloration in their permanent teeth to permanent damage in the body and the skeleton. This spreading issue is being effectively stopped in its tracks through the convergent Integrated Fluorosis Mitigation (IFM) approach, which was demonstrated by UNICEF in areas having fluoride content above permissible levels, 1.5 mg per litre of drinking water.
Sagwada in Rajasthan is one region facing high fluoride exposure in drinking water. Jiya and her 7-year-old daughter Dipika who live here suffer from early symptoms of fluorosis.
To help Jiya manage the symptoms, UNICEF and its partners have helped her access necessary nutritional supplements through the community Anganwadi Worker. Anganwadi Worker, Indira Devi, was trained by the Department of Women and Child Development on how to identify and communicate about fluorosis, and to encourage affected individuals like Jiya to include calcium and Vitamin C rich food and supplements in her diet as well as Dipika’s.
Apart from this, the state government, with support from UNICEF and its partners, is investing in preventive efforts.
For instance, bringing a smile on the face of Jiya and Dipika is this Solar De-Fluoridation Unit.
As part of the integrated approach, Rajasthan’s Public Health Engineering Department installed the unit near Jiya’s community, which helps reduce the amount of fluoride in the water until it reaches the permissible level not affecting human health as per WHO and the Government of India standards. This is helping many like Jiya access safe water, every day.
Many departments in Rajasthan have come together to spread awareness about the issue, as access to safe drinking water is every child’s right.
This approach has been mainstreamed and is now scaled up by Department of Health, Government of Rajasthan, through the National Program for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis (NPPCF).
UNICEF is working closely with its partners and the Government to create a safe and enabling environment for every child.
