Jajpur/ Kaliapani: With the steady rise of malaria cases among Juanga children in Nagada village, the roadmap laid down by the health secretary to bail out the tribals seem to have failed miserably, a report said.
In the absence of healthcare facilities, the villagers have now become reliant on local quacks, it was learnt.
While two kids died of malaria in the last one month, at present eight children are suffering from the deadly fever. Malaria positive cases are on the rise as the prescriptions of inexperienced quacks are of no use.
Meanwhile, a medical team from Sukinda community health centre (CHC) Friday visited Nagada and collected blood sample of the affected children. The department initiated the move after Oriya daily Dharitri reported the matter in its Thursday edition.
Arati Ahuja, then secretary of health and family welfare department, during her Nagada visit, had asked a medical team to camp in at least twice a week in the village and directed the CDPO to visit Nagada every alternative day.
Though road connectivity has been established to the once-inaccessible village, the health department officials are least bothered to carry out the government order, it was learnt.
The village has been in the grip of malaria for the last one month. With no physician in sight, the tribals are consulting an inexperienced quack of nearby Koikalaspur but they hardly get any relief.
Madhu Pradhan (4) and Dudura Pradhan (3 months old) died of malaria in the last 30 days.
At present the kids who are suffering from the fever are identified as Sumita (1), daughter of Padu Pradhan, Sabana (5), daughter of Jampha Padhan, Kandura (3), son of Ainthu Padhan, Chandan (3 months old), son of Desh Pradhan, Parvati (1), daughter of Kurupa Padhan of Tala Nagada village, Guli (5), daughter of Shikari Padhan and Puria (4), son of Gokuli Padhan of Majhi Nagada village. Of them, the condition of Kandura and Sumita was stated to be critical.
Though these kids were suffering from malaria for the last five days, they had not been given medical assistance. Cashing in on the opportunity, the quacks started exploiting the Juangas, it was learnt.
Chief district medical officer Dr Phanindra Panigrahi said the department is organising many awareness programmes for the tribals. Despite this, the tribals still rely on quacks, which is unfortunate, he added. PNN
