The Pioneer, Aug 26, 2007
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna
Due to non-functioning of a motor launch, Health Department personnel have failed to provide services in the flood-affected gram panchayats, including Maligaon, Talnagi, Gopinathpur and Ardi, under Thuamul-Rampur block in Kalahandi district. As a result, the number of deaths due to malaria and diarrhoea is on the increase since last 15 days. Though official reports say that six people have so far died of these diseases, the unofficial figure is as high as 33.
Since last nine months, the villagers are also deprived of Government-supplied rice and the problem was discussed at the District Planning Committee meeting held on August 20. The Civil Supplies Officer of Kalahandi and BDO of Thuamul-Rampur admitted the non-availability of rice.
Additional District Medical Officer Sushil Rath told The Pioneer, "We have sufficient medicines to provide, but the main problem is lack of communication to the remote areas. Deprived of getting Government rice, people are taking unhygienic food and drinking polluted water in these areas. When one dies in the village, the people tie his body with sticks and ropes and then throw it into the nearby pond. Fishes inside the pond eat the body and then the villagers eat these fishes. This leads to spread of the epidemics. The people are also taking spurious liquor, which should be checked immediately," he added.
Meanwhile, Koksara MLA Puspendu Singh Deo visited the flood-affected villages and demanded that a minimum of three motor launches be pressed into service to provide immediate healthcare. He has drawn the attention of the State Government, Special Relief Commission and district administration to the problems.
No comments:
Post a Comment