Post News Network
Baripada, April 24: Even as World Malaria Day will be observed Saturday, the killer disease has not been eradicated completely in this mineral-rich district despite spending of lakhs of rupees towards prevention, medication and awareness programmes.
Malaria continues to claim lives in the district and a large numbers of deaths remain unreported. Growing numbers of people are getting afflicted by this killer disease.
In 2014, four persons died of the disease. But unofficial sources claimed that many such deaths took place in remote areas but remained unreported. Health department sources said that two deaths had happened in 2013. But the number of persons having malaria parasite in their blood was put at 27,822 across the district in 2014. Similarly, this number was 17,134 in 2013.
Three persons had died of the disease in 2012; one in 2011; 8 in 2010, 16 in 2009 and 13 in 2008. But 2000 was the worst years for the district when malaria had claimed 199 lives.
As mineral and forested areas are malaria prone, the department has implemented necessary programmes like free distribution of medicines and mosquito nets, collection of blood sample and testing. But it was alleged that it was done only in paper. In remote and inaccessible areas, distribution of medicines and blood sample collections were not carried out properly, due to negligence of ANMs and health workers.
Take the case of Debanand Mohant from Champua block, who is currently under treatment for malaria at the district headquarters hospital for the last one month. Mohant alleged that he was neither provided a free mosquito net nor medicines.
Another malaria patient, Raju Sethi from Koida area, alleged that he saw no sign of improvement in his condition despite treatments.
Lakti Munda, yet another malaria patient from Bansapal block, has been under treatment at the district headquarters hospital for the last two weeks.
Former district malaria eradication officer Dr UN Barik stated that many people in remote areas remained unaware of being affected by malaria and die subsequently.
Though many die of malaria, their deaths are attributed to some other reasons.
In remote areas, malaria medicines are not distributed and blood samples too are not collected by ANM workers, Barik rued.