Jajpur/Kaliapani: The death of over 14 children within five months reportedly due to malnutrition, lack of healthcare facilities and superstition has set alarm bells ringing in tribal-dominated Nagada and its surrounding villages under the mineral-rich Sukinda block in Jajpur district.
In the latest casualty, six-year-old Sania Pradhan, son of Kaintha Pradhan, of Guhiasal village died at a hospital in Kaliapani Monday, a report said.
Over 30 kids from the remote area are suffering from malnutrition. Children suffering from malnutrition first develop bloated bellies, then lose vision and subsequently die.
The situation has arisen as the district administration is yet to implement the integrated child development scheme (ICDS) in the village to provide nutritious foods to kids.
Observers claimed apart from malnutrition, early marriage within the age group of 10 to 14 years, superstition, lack of vaccination and drinking water facilities have led to the deaths.
Locals said leaders of political parties visit the villages only before elections. No public representative or administrative official has ever set his foot in Nagada village situated over a hill in Chingudipala panchayat.
The village paints a picture of complete neglect as benefits of none of the government-sponsored schemes have reached the villagers. In the absence of a proper road, the villagers have to trek over eight km through a dense forest to reach Deogaon.
Not even a single case of institutional delivery has been reported in the village due to the communication problem. Besides, health workers have never visited the village to conduct health check-up of residents and administer vaccines.
Let alone healthcare facilities, the village doesn’t have a tube-well for which the residents have to depend on water of springs for drinking and cooking purposes.
As a result of these issues, death of newborns has remained unchecked in the village. The villagers have never heard of schemes like Janani Surakhsya Yojana launched by the government to check maternal and infant mortality and are deprived of vaccination facilities.
The government’s aim of providing universal healthcare seems to have gone haywire if one takes a look at this hilly village. PNN
