The Japanese Encephalitis has killed over 150 children and taken epidemic proportions in Malkangiri district due to negligence and callous attitude of the Naveen Patanik Government, alleged BJP leaders at a Press meet here on Sunday.
“As many as 150 children have already succumbed to the disease against the Government’s figure of 54. The disease has already spread its wing in 99 villages under the district’s six of seven blocks. While nine children died during the last three days, four are in ICU and over 25 undergoing treatment at the Malkangiri DHH ward today. Hence, there is no truth in the State Government’s claim that the Japanese Encephalitis is under control,” alleged BJP State general secretary Bhrugu Baxipatra.
He said one Sama Madkamoi of Katanpali village under Padia block has already lost three children and his fourth child is now suffering from the deadly disease. Though he had brought the child to the DHH, yet he left the hospital for Hyderabad.
Buxipatra alleged that the Government’s announcement to distribute 50,000 medicated mosquito nets has not truth at all. The CDMO has bought 11,000 ordinary nets from the market for distribution.
He slammed the State Government for not purchasing a single mosquito net though the tender process has been completed for the year 2015-16. “Though the Centre has provided 60 lakh mosquito nets, why poor tribal families have not been given nets,” he wanted to know
Though a large number of children have already died, only four families have been given `2,000 each under the Harichandra Yojana and four other families given `10,000 each under the Red Cross fund.
“It is disappointing the Japanese Encephalitis has never become subject at the Health Department review meetings held in the third floor even as it had taken 38 lives in 2012 and 11 in 2014,” alleged Buxipatra. While the disease has been endemic, the State Government has yet to decide whether to kill pigs or not. Now people are killing pigs without getting compensation, he said, adding that the killed pigs are being dumped in an unhygienic way and there is every possibility of the groundwater getting contaminated.
He lamented that 62 out of 97 sanctioned doctor posts are lying vacant in the district.
Among others, party State secretaries Kalingi Samal and Dilip Mallick and State spokesperson Sudipta Ray were present.