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Epidemic threat keeps administration on toes

BERHAMPUR: The administration is on its toes with reports of gastroenteritis and diarrhoea cases coming up from Kashipur block and some other remote areas of Rayagada district of Orissa.

The physicians posted in the Kashipur Community Health Centre (CHC) and the other Primary Health Centres of the Kasipur block have started to find gastro cases increasing with the onset of monsoon. It may be noted that during the monsoon last year the area faced a gastro epidemic, which claimed over 150 lives. This time all are extra cautious. On Tuesday a high-level team, led by the State secretary for rural development, S.N. Tripathy, reached the district to review its preparedness to stop the possibility of any recurrence of gastro epidemic.

The team put stress on the availability of safe drinking water and proper sanitation. Last year contamination of drinking water collected from streams was the reason behind the epidemic. It visited Khaliguda, Bhakuraguda and Badachandili villages. They also took part in awareness camps organised by water and sanitation mission at Kashipur and Kalyansinghpur.

Speaking to The Hindu, the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) of Rayagada, P. Sitarama, claimed that no deaths due to gastro infections occurred in the Kashipur block during the recent monsoon. He, however, added that due to comparably low rainfall this year the rate of gastro infection was also low in the area. “Till now the situation is under control,” he said. He also added that even the normal death rate in the area during the last quarter did not show any alarming trend related to health problems.

But, the whole administration is on its toes. During May and June, 540 awareness camps were held in villages of Kasipur block to make people aware of sanitation and safe drinking water to avoid gastro infection during the monsoon. Volunteer informants have been chosen in every village to inform administration about any gastro-related case emerging in their village immediately. Apart from them Anganwadi, Asha and multipurpose health workers have been stationed in almost all villages with halogen tablets, ORS and anti-diarrhoeal drugs. Medical teams are also making systematic tours of the villages of the area. Special watch is also being kept on malaria cases.

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