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High alert in Mohana block

BERHAMPUR: Health services and the administration are on high alert in Mohana block of Gajapati district to avert outbreak of epidemic like in Kasipur and Dasmantpur blocks. Water contamination following rain also led to rise in gastroenteritis cases in the block. According to Chief District Medical Officer Bijaymangal Mohapatra, till now 26 villages in the block experienced gastro infections.

Deaths due to gastroenteritis or cholera were not new to the area which had several remote inaccessible tribal pockets. Official records accept that between January and August this year, at least 14 persons died due to gastroenteritis in this block. Remoteness of areas might have left several cases unreported.

Officials were trying their best to contain the disease. He said during the last two and half months they had treated at least 300 patients.

Gajapati district Collector D.V. Swami camped at Mohana for three days to monitor the health services. At present, seven medical teams and seven ambulances were making rounds of the affected villages to carry patients to nearby hospitals as early as possible. This remote block was now being attended to by more than 60 doctors and para-medical staff.

Mohana block chairman Prashant Mallik said at least the threat of epidemic had solved some of the deficiencies in health services of the area. Nine posts of doctor were vacant in the block. But recently, four doctors had been posted to the area. A team of UNICEF was also making rounds along with the medical teams to bring about awareness among tribals to adopt hygienic food and drinking water habits.

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High alert in Mohana block

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