Diarrhoea outbreak in Seraikela in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district has alarmed the district health department. Two persons, Shankar Munda (55) and five-year-old girl, Bharti Purty died of diarrhoea at Sarna Tola of Shidhnarayanpur village in Gamharia in last three days.
The agitated villagers complained that there is a primary health centre (PHC) at the village, but most of the time the doctors posted in the PHC remain absent. They complained that no doctors remain available at the PHC during the night.
State Tribal Welfare Minister Champai Soren visited a village at Gamharia in the adjoining Seraikela-Kharsawan district. He scolded the civil surgeon, SK Jha and asked him to ensure that from now onward there should be round-the-clock presence of doctors at the PHC. Besides, the Minister asked the civil surgeon to hold a camp of a medical team at Shidhnarayanpur village.
The health department functionaries are trying to find out through public announcement system as to if anyone else was suffering from the diarrhea, and also taking measures spraying DDT at the places across the Seraikela.
Meanwhile, heaps of garbage and filth lie unattended at Seraikela from ward 1 to 10. A drain is over flowing nearby but despite assurances the situation remains the same. The stink and unhygienic atmosphere bothers commuters, especially pedestrians using footpaths along the roads.
People inhale these particles and fell victim to various infectious diseases. After mass feast leftover food are dumped in public place. It has become a regular affair. With limited workers’ strength, we are not able to pay attention to every corner. The viruses are transmitted to humans through the bites of infective female Aedes mosquitoes which have good concentration in municipal areas. If preventive steps are not taken in time, the spread could acquire dangerous proportion
Meanwhile, the Joint director and consultant Japanese Encephalitis of National Vector Borne Disease Control Program (NVBDCP) V. K Raina held a sensitization meeting with East Singhbhum district health department over increasing cases of vector borne diseases reported in this region. The visit of the senior NVBDCP official who was accompanied by state consultant of NVBDCP Sagya Singh assumes significance in view of 28 cases of Japanese Encephalitis cases reported from health centers of the district.