Anaemia is showing its ugly face among the tribal population of Bastar district as among the children and women who died during 2012-13 in the district, 60 per cent were suffering from this disease.
The district is witnessing increased mortality year after year. According to health department statistics, 35 women died last year in Maharani Hospital (attached to Jagdalpur Medical College), Primary Health Centres and Community Health Centres, out of which 14 fell victim to anaemia. Besides, among girls under the age group of 10 to 17 years, the ailment is found in large numbers and despite the State Government's claims, the health department's efforts are far from sufficient for containing it.
District immunisation officer RC Maitri said that for an effective control on anaemia, now children are being given iron tablets in schools; besides, the common man in rural areas are being given information on diseases which can be developed due to anaemia and asked to get their haemoglobin test done at regular intervals. However, Maitri lamented that there was total lack of awareness among masses on anaemia. Even after conducting tests and providing medicines free of cost, village folks are showing carelessness in taking iron tablets on time, leading to failure of the department to contain this malaise. According to him, people come for test only when the disease enters a serious stage.
Notably, in the health centres of Bastar district, more than 5,500 patients suffering from anaemia were detected last year out of which 800 were children, while 4,800 were adolescent girls and an overwhelming percentage of them were from inner parts of the district. According to sources, sub health centres set up for every 3,000 population in rural areas hardly have any facility for test of anaemia, the impact of which is clearly visible on the large number of girls and expecting women from rural areas suffering from this malaise. Bastar and Badekilepal blocks are stated to be the hardest hit due the lack of test facility for anaemia as roughly over 25 per cent girls and pregnant women are under its tentacles, the main reason for which is their careless food habits, the district immunisation official added.