Joda: In the superstition-ridden tribal pockets of Keonjhar district, branding is still rampant to treat various ailments that commonly afflict children. Thanks to tribal people’s blind belief, many kids have lost their lives due to branding in the last several months.
In yet another case of such death, a days-old baby died at the District Headquarters Hospital Saturday, days after being branded at Pidhipokhari of Kalimati panchayat under Joda block. The 18-day -old baby was the son of Budhuram Munda.
According to reports, the baby’s belly had swollen Monday last and apparently had stomach pain. Later, the baby had developed breathing problem and stopped suckling mother’s milk. There is no healthcare facility around the village. So, a relative had branded the infant with a piece of hot iron on its belly, said the baby’s parents.
Condition of the baby worsened hours after ‘the treatment’. His parents managed to get the service of an ambulance, which was in a nearby village on an immunization drive, and took the baby to the DHH. The baby had been under treatment for four hours before succumbing to branding.
The village is in a remote forested pocket. Healthcare is not accessible to the tribal residents, as vehicles, including ambulance, can’t reach the village owing to lack of a road.
Budhuram Munda, on the other hand, alleged that though he had sought the help of ASHA, she had not come to his rescue.
Several branding cases had taken place across the district in the last few months. One-year-old Sashmita Patra, the daughter of Dulari Patra and Basu Patra, was branded at Matkambeda in Barbil town and admitted to the DHH August 17. She had stomach pain and her parents, following the advice of a local resident, got her branded.
Some weeks ago, two tribal kids were critical and died later after being branded in Harichandanpur block. And, in the last two months, about a dozen cases of branding were reported from various parts of the district.
Recently, a 25-day-old Juanga kid of Kharba village, was under treatment at the DHH and later succumbed to branding. Earlier, son of Kulamani Juanga, a resident of Kuladhankuni under this block, was branded and died August 1 while undergoing treatment.
A seven-year old kid (son of Gouri Dehuri) was branded at Phuljhar area under Bansapal block and was admitted to the DHH.
Such cases are common in areas like Kharba, Kuladhankuni, Nalo and other hilly areas under this block. PNN
