Death of tribal children; Govt to rush a medical team for assessment

[Snowy Owl]

Death of tribal children; Govt to rush a medical team for assessment
Sunday August 5 2007 00:00 IST

http://www.newindpress.com/NewsItems.asp?ID=IEQ20070804123236&Page=Q&Title=ORISSA&Topic=0
​

<small>BHUBANESWAR: Death of 12 tribal children and an old man in mysterious diseases in Chamakpur gram panchayat of Joda block in Keonjhar district during the last one and half months has finally woke up the the State Government to rush a medical team for spot assessment.

A team of doctors from SCB Medical College and Hospital, Cuttack has been sent to Chamakpur on Saturday to find out the reason of the death. They will also visit Joda hospital where six children suffering from fever have been admitted, official sources said.

A report received from the chief district medical officer (CDMO) of Keonjhar district by the State Government said that eight children of Rugudi village have died due to post-measles complications.

All the deceased had body rash which indicated that they were suffering from measles, the report said.

The medical team from the SCB Medical College and Hospital will confirm whether all the deaths are due to measles or for other diseases, the sourfces said.

As a majority of the villagers in Chamakpur gram panchayat are tribal and highly supertitious, they neither take medical assistance nor report the death case to the nearby health centre.

The CDMO has informed the Government that health team from the district headquarters have been visiting Chamakpur gram panchayat at regular intervals from July 19.

Measles weakens the immune system and the affected persons are prone to several diseases if do not receive proper treatment. In case of children affected by measles, the common disease during post-recovery is disentry and respiratory infection.

The CDMO has further informed the State Government that the villagers of Rugudi are consuming water from unhealthy sources as the only tube well of the village is defunct.</small>