The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Epidemic crisis looms large: PHC

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Monday, Aug 11, 2008
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Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Epidemic crisis looms large: PHC

S. Harpal Singh

Large number of tribals still prefer quacks to PHCs

Cry for attention: Kumra Gangaram of Guda Mamda village in Jainoor mandal lost his speech and is unable to walk since he was down with malaria last year.

JAINOOR (ADILABAD DT.): The epidemic situation in agency areas in Adilabad looks to be under control with only about 20 deaths of children being reported due to viral and malarial fevers so far in this season. However, Medical Officers working in the five disease-prone mandals of Narnoor, Jainoor, Sirpur (U), Indervelli and Utnoor consider it like the proverbial calm before the storm.

“There is every chance of the situation exploding in the tribal villages unless access to medical aid is improved here. In view of the high incidence of malaria the government must take certain basic steps to improve such accessibility,” points out a doctor working in one of the primary health centres (PHC) in Jainoor mandal. He feels more mobile medical teams should be deployed so as to reach out to the traditionally reluctant tribals in interior villages.

“We have enough medicines but few takers. The government can allocate the jeeps lying idle with respective mandal samakhyas to medical teams. Besides, bringing the PHC sub centre at Guda Mamda into use will help patients from the 22 hamlets of the Guda Mamda and Patnapur Gram Panchayats,” the doctor adds. Though the building was constructed one year back it is not being used.

The scars of last year’s epidemic are still visible in most of the villages. In Guda Mamda village itself 12 year old Kumra Gangaram lies incapacitated in his house since the last December.

He was treated for malaria last year but inexplicably he gradually lost his speech and the power to walk. He needs urgent attention.

Meanwhile, the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, Utnoor has opened a nutritious food centre in Utnoor for the benefit of tribal children. Even parents accompanying the children are being provided with highly nutritious food for free for unlimited number of days.

Similarly, in an effort to keep malarial medicines within the reach of villagers, quacks in Jainoor mandal are being given the medicine free of cost. A large number of tribals still prefer the quacks to the PHC.

“This Friday, the District Malaria Officer Ravi Kumar will distribute the medicine to the 26 RMPs identified for the purpose. They will be given instructions to supply the medicines to tribals free of cost,” says Jainoor Tahsildar B. Vishwambhar.

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