Bhawanipatna: The residents of Sarasaguda village under Golamunda block in Kalahandi district struggle for survival as the deadly Thyroid (Goitre) disease haunts the tribal village for generations now.
Astonishingly, the district administration remains unaware even as the tribals have been gripped by the disease for the last 40 years. This has been the situation for ages now from their ancestors, locals said.
Ranging from 70-year-old elderly woman to 5-year-old children, the disease has not spared anyone. At least one member of every family seems to have been affected by the disease.
Comprising tribal families, the village is located amidst hills in Golamunda block. Far away from modernisation, the villagers are deprived of basic facilities, including education, road communication, electricity and supply of nutritious food.
Due to unknown reason, the ancestors developed the thyroid, a butterfly-shaped gland on the neck. The disease kept on spreading to generations due to lack of treatment.
The deadly disease affects the metabolic processes of the body. Adding to the woes, the disease shortens the life span of the affected persons. Even as it is 40 years, no exact reason of the spread of the disease has been ascertained. Interestingly, the administration still remains unaware of the plight of the tribals till date.
The matter came to light after Sukant Kumar Tripathy, project director (PD) of District Rural Development Agency was informed of the plight, who brought the matter to the notice of the district collector.
He also assured that a medical team would be sent to the village to examine the reason for the spread of the disease. A report will be submitted to the government following which measures will be taken, he said.
“At present our main focus is the treatment of the minor children who have been affected by the disease and cure it in the primary stage before its turns fatal for them, he further added. PNN