Keonjhar: A large number of people living in inaccessible areas under Banshapal block still depend on lockets prescribed by quacks to address their health issues, a report said.
Proper health care service is still a dream in many regions of Banshapal block as they are surrounded by hills and forest from all sides. Even as people get exploited in the hands of quacks or traditional healers in the absence of allopathic doctors and many die due to wrong treatment, they still trust the lockets given by the quacks.
In many cases people get cured from some minor ailments due to body’s immune system but they attribute it to the charisma of the quacks, locally known as Disari.
“My grand-daughter was suffering from severe fever. We took her to a Disari who performed some rituals and asked us to put a locket in kid’s neck. She got cured after wearing it,” said Parvati Juang, a tribal resident of Colony Sahi in Talapanasansa village under Sadar block.
Many tribal children of Juang community can be seen wearing lockets around their necks and waists to battle deadly diseases. The child and infant mortality rate in such region has been on the rise due to superstitions like this, it was learnt.
Though the Kanjipani government hospital is just eight km from the village, the tribals don’t get the required health care facilities due to shortage of doctors and other staff, it was alleged.
Besides, it is a daunting task to cross the ghat roads and hilly terrain to reach the hospital. So, it is better to consult the quacks and get some lockets to cure the children, one of the villagers pointed out.
