Hundreds of people died of diarrhoea and dengue in South Orissa

State Government is yet to declare it as an epidemic

After much hue and cry Orissa chief minister Naveen Patnaik reviewed the situation in the southern tribal districts of the State where diarrhoea and dengue have started taking their toll. Despite the assurance given by the Health Department Government of Orissa that the situation in South Orissa is under control, things seem to be far more serious. Even though close to 100 persons have died of diarrhoea and dengue in Rayagada, Nabarangpur, Koraput, Kalahandi and Malkangiri districts, the State Government is yet to declare it as an epidemic.

Large-scale vacancies in doctor posts, paramedics and other key officials in various hospitals in rural areas of South Orissa have exposed Orissa Government’s step motherly treatment to south Orissa and lack of preparedness in dealing with the situation of such seriousness.

After the death of more then 100 people the Orissa Government wakes up and the Chief Minister directed that besides health department employees, employees of other departments should also be deployed in the affected areas to assist the doctors and paramedics to deal with the situation. Besides, the officials have also been directed to ensure that every village has access to potable water and uncontaminated food.

Deaths due to diarrhoea and contaminated food have become an annual affair in the backward tribal districts where many villages do not have tube wells.

Source: The New Indian Express