Post News Network
Keonjhar, April 5: Over 100 tribals in two remote hamlets near Sudunga in Nayakote panchayat under Bansapal block have been affected by a ‘mysterious’ fever, while health officials have not reached the inaccessible pocket to take stock of the situation.
For the last one week, number of fever cases has been rising in Nadasahi and Jhiripani hamlets lying at the foothills of Khandadhar hill on the
borders of Sundargarh district.
In Nadasahi, over 50 persons
including children are affected by the fever. But pitiably, the administration has not reached out to them in such a crisis situation.
Maina Giri, a villager, lamented, “Availing healthcare services here is a distant dream. In case of emergency, patients are carried on slings with great difficulty to hospitals. Sometimes, patients die on the way to hospital due to lack of treatment.”
Gamei Giri and Kanhu Giri, among those affected by the fever, rued the absence of healthcare facilities in the area.
Nadasahi is 6 km and Jhiripani 10 km away from Sudunga. There is no road connectivity to the hamlets which are only accessible through a narrow cart-track meandering through hilly terrains. In the absence of basic
facilities like drinking water, electricity and above all healthcare in proximity, the poor tribals have been
suffering for years.
No official has ever visited these hamlets while development and
execution of welfare programmes like Indira Awas Yojana and pension schemes are a distant dream for the poor Urdhamunda and Bhuyan
tribals, the residents alleged.
Anganwadi worker Hemalata Giri alleged the administration has not yet woken up to the situation.
When contacted, chief district medical officer Dr KP Sahu apparently downplayed the issue, saying that due to heat wave, viral fever is gripping many parts. He added that a health team will visit the villages Monday.