The CRPF personnel deployed in the interiors of Jharkhand are being provided three-tier protections from mosquito bites and water-borne diseases. Mosquitoes, has been proved to be a bigger menace than the Maoists for the security personnel engaged in anti-Naxalite operations in the jungles of Jharkhand during the monsoon season.
“Taking no risk in case of mosquito bites, tablets of chloroquine is given to the jawans who are detected with even minor fever. As it takes time to get test results in the camps, choloroquine tablets are administered immediately from day one as and when the fever is detected to them,” said CRPF (IG) RK Mishra.
According to the IG, three-tier protections — preventive, detective and follow-up are ensuring to save jawans from the menace of malaria.
Under the preventive measures fogging is done from the machines provided to each of the camps, mosquito net is provided to the jawans and the area in which they are living in, is kept neat and clean, said the IG.
Secondly, under the detection level, test for malaria is done immediately as soon as a jawan is detected with even minor fever and given tablets of chloroquine from day one. Thirdly, under follow-up medical assistance is started immediately to the jawans shifting them immediately to the hospitals like RIMS or Apollo, said the IG.
Mishra however, admitted that less number of such cases is being reported now as compared to earlier. “Number of cases related to mosquito bite has remarkably gone down to single digit which earlier happened to be in hundreds,” admitted Mishra.
He further added that the month of October and November is supposes to be more crucial for mosquito bites during the end of monsoon season as there are more chances of larvae formation.
life of jawans fighting from the Maoists in the jungles of Jharkhand is full of challenges as they have to deal with unforeseen challenges like heavy rains, landslides, washing out of the pathway due to heavy rains and other natural difficulties arising before them.