Post News Network
Bhubaneswar: As many as 18 cases of jaundice have been detected at Jharna Basti of the capital, with four suspected cases yet to be confirmed.
This comes against the backdrop of the state health department starting its special screening drive recently to detect cases of jaundice in the state capital.
Jharna Basti, which comes under ward number 53, lying close to the Chief Minister’s house is now been surveyed by the health department to help it make timely medical intervention.
“Till now we have detected 22 cases of jaundice. All the people have been given medicine and most of them have been cured. We have been taking the help of mobile public health units to screen the people and assist them medically,” Deben Das, additional district medical officer, state public health department, told Orissa POST.
A team of doctors, supported by 90 ANMs and 107 ASHA workers, has been screening people in the Basti for jaundice, Das said. The team has conducted blood tests and provided affected people medicine. Water samples from have also been collected and sent for investigations.
The state health department plans to use diverse platforms to tackle the menace of jaundice. Apart from the traditional methods of combating the disease, it has also been trying to use folk shows to create awareness among the people of the Basti to prevent the spread of the disease. The department also plans to extend the services to other parts of the city.
“Right now our priority is to focus on the areas where we suspect more cases of jaundice may surface. However, with the available manpower we will extend the screening and awareness services to different parts of the city to prevent the spread of the disease,” Das said.
The health department has also held talks with the Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation to use hoardings for creating awareness on the disease and ways to check it. It has also taken the help of local NGOs in holding folk shows to spread awareness. Folk shows have been organised near Damana and Patia recently.