In the home district of Jharkhand Health and Family Welfare Minister Ramchandra Chandravanshi, malaria and some unknown diseases have created havoc in remote villages of Bhandariya block. Ten deaths were reported during 15 days in two villages block.
In the tribal village Rud about five children died due to malaria. The deceased persons have been identified as Anjani Kumari (7 years), daughter of Fagu Kisan, lalita Kumari (7 month) daughter of Bambhola Kisan, Chhatani Kumari daughter of Birendra Kisan, Anur Kisan (5 years) son of Jagarnath Kisan and Prabha Kumari
(6 year) daughter of Shiv Prasad Kisan. Five other deaths have been in Bhuiyan Patti of Fakiradih village by an unknown disease where the symptom is stomach pain and fever.
Deceased were identified as Abhay Kumar (6 years) son of Balku Bhiyan, Komal Chaudhy (45 year), Pritam Kumar (2 year) son of Manoj Bhiuan, wife of Sanjay Bhuiyan and Akshay Kumar (12 year) son of Sheonath Chaudhry. Beside this about one dozen peoples are currently suffering from the disease.
Majority of these deaths have taken place while being treated by quacks, who are often consulted by the villagers in the absence of awareness and proper health care. After such deaths getting reported in newspapers, the health department has become active. A medical team reached Rud village and examined the people. Doctors have also given medicine to the patients. However, they are yet to visit village Fakiradih. Fakiradih is situated in a dense forest and is about 85-km far from the district headquarter. Roads are non-existent. Death and devastation in garb of malaria, diarrhea, and tuberculosis are nothing new to people inhabiting the sleepy hamlets of Bhandariya block. Bereft from basic preventive and treatment facilities, the villagers seem to have resigned themselves to the fact that sooner or later the disease would prey on them.
The death toll rises particularly in between July to December every year. Malaria, diarrhea, tuberculosis etc have continued its onslaught in the remote villages of the block this year too leaving behind a trail of tears.