The Pioneer, Sept 27, 2010
Bikash Khemka | Bhawanipatna
At least 375 diarrhoea-affected men, women and children have been treated in two Primary Health Centres (PHCs) of Ampani and Koksara under Koksara block since June. The epidemic has spread to 42 villages, including Ampani, Siuni, Kaudala and Koksara and seven persons have reportedly died of the disease this year in this block alone.
Though the numbers of patients are increasing day-by-day, lack of space in PHCs have become a headache for the Kalahandi district administration. A large number of patients are being treated on floor due to lack of bed facilities. Out of 1,246 tube-wells in the block, 36 are not only defunct but have become non-reparable.
Locals allege that drinking water pipes installed by the Public Health Department (PHD) have developed cracks and the polluted roadside water is mixed with pipe water. Consumption of the contaminated water is the main cause of of diarrhea. When the disease breaks out, the district administration officials and the local MLA rush to the villages, but they never care to visit the villages to ensure prevention of the epidemic, the locals allege.
Meanwhile, District Collector Rupa Mishra has visited Koksara block twice after the outbreak of diarrhoea. Koksara Block Development Officer Trilochan Singh told the media that 300 packets of bleaching powder were used for disinfection of all ponds, rivers and tube-wells. Villagers are eating karadi (bamboo shoot) and dead fish, for which the disease is spreading, he added.
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