A fact-finding team of the Union Government would visit Nagada in Jajpur district on Monday following the death of at least 19 children due to malnutrition at the Juang tribal village. A five-member team of the Union Health Ministry would visit the village under Sukinda block to interact with the residents before having a review meeting with the Jajpur district administration and then State Government officials.
The team led by the Ministry’s Joint Secretary Chetan B Sanghi and accompanied by Deputy Commissioner (Child Health) Sila Deb, National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP) Additional Director Awadesh Kumar, medical expert from Kalawati Saran Children’s Hospital Praveen Kumar and advisor of Rashtriya Bal Swasthya Karyakram (RBSK) Arun Singh would visit Nagada for an on-the-spot survey.
Besides 19 children’s death in the mineral-rich area, 24 infants in two villages of Nagada and Guhiasal located on the hilltop are undergoing treatment at local health centres.