Panikoili: Alarmed over media reports about rapid spread of leprosy in two tribal villages of Korei block in Jajpur district, a health team visited the villages and took stock of the situation Sunday.
According to reports, the disease is spreading rapidly in Benga Adivasi Sahi and Badabarunaipada under Patharpada panchayat with as many as 10 persons having been afflicted with the ailment.
The health team admitted three of the affected persons to Jajpur Road hospital and shifted another to SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack.
Acute malnutrition is stated to be the reason behind the rapid spread of the disease in the villages. The health team was left baffled over the development as the villages were being provided with basic facilities like drinking water, power connections, ration cards, land pattas, Anganwadi centre, schools and hospitals.
Most of the children of the villages were found to be suffering from malnutrition. Locals said the conventional mentality of the tribal villagers and their lack of awareness led to the situation.
The villagers, who work mostly as casual labourers, marry off their children at young age with girls becoming pregnant at a tender-age.
Besides, inadequate time gap between child births and giving birth to a number of children are also to be blamed for the state of affairs.
Moreover, easy availability of liquor makes the villagers prone to addiction.
Korei MLA Akash Das Nayak said treatment of affected persons has started. He will talk to the collector and the treatment of leprosy-affected people and malnourished kids will be done on priority basis while awareness programmes will be undertaken in these two villages to sensitise the locals, he added. PNN
