Shiloh
Editor, Senior Moderator
Source: http://www.merinews.com/catFull.jsp?articleID=131673
Garo Hills under an epidemic outbreak?
Saidul Khan, 03 April 2008, Thursday
With dead toll as many as 50, its time the health authorities in East Garo Hills wake up. There is the likelihood of an epidemic outbreak and cases of malaria and meningitis are on the rise. Better medical facilities are needed to curb the outbreak.
ITS THAT time of the year, when the remote areas of Meghalaya fall in the trap of various seasonal outbreak of diseases; malaria being the number one killer. The recent outbreak of meningitis, with the dead toll of more than 50 in East Garo Hills, proves the grim state of affairs.
Though the officials, in the health department have put the figure to only four till date. The report from the affected areas goes to prove that more than 50 people have died due to fever-like diseases ? possibility of meningitis is not ruled out. This is just the figure of March alone. Areas like Samanda, Rongjeng, Mangsang and Songsak of East Garo Hills are the worst affected. However, the health authorities in the state capital Shillong have not yet issued any official statement on the outbreak.
The doctors in Garo Hills and disease and surveillance officers who were on a visit to these areas have confirmed the epidemic in Rongjeng, Songsak and Samanda. These doctors, who have the updated information, told that 38 persons have been officially declared death.
The officer said that, it was not a serious outbreak. The death according to them was due to fever like symptoms and not meningitis. She told that 50 people have died in East Garo Hills in the month of March.
The new Health Minister, Dr Advisor Pariong was not available for any comment. It may be mentioned that on March 30, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has also issued an official release with priority label that 30 were reported to be death due to fever spread by meningococcal meningitis.
It is not just a question of patients dying of meningitis or malaria. But it is a serious case where people from remote areas have died. Health authorities need to really strengthen up its measures to combat the outbreak of diseases.
Though Rapid Response team is already at these affected areas, detail information has not been provided yet.
It may be noted for the last 15 days in Songsak area of East Garo Hills, the cause of the death is still not known. The main question is: What is the cause of these deaths? Why have the health authorities acted negatively to these figures?
Death toll in March 2008:
Cheran village: 30 dead, with another three dead on Monday
Sinal Bolong: 25 dead
Jamge and surrounding areas: 13 dead
Dongkong: Nine dead
Total death: 78 dead
Is it not alarming?
The local MLA of the area, Mihir D Shira told a local newspaper, ?The medical teams deputed to the villages are not equipped to deal with these diseases. The whole situation is out of control and I request the health department to take up the issue immediately.? The health ministry has already announced a date to convene a meeting in Guwahati to discuss this issue. The meeting is slated for April 9.
Beginning from the month of March every year people in various parts of Garo Hills die mostly due to malaria. It is worth mentioning that both malaria and meningitis have similar symptoms.
Garo Hills district have seen various epidemics over the years. In the last two year more than 200 official malarial deaths have been reported. The worst affected places are in the Indo-Bangla border areas. In one of the worst epidemic in Garo Hills, in May 2007, 18 people died in a week in Purakhasia alone, due to malaria. The area, which is close to the Indo-Bangla border, has seen similar deaths, many times in the last several years.
These figures demand attention. Shying away for the fact will make the situation worse.
Garo Hills under an epidemic outbreak?
Saidul Khan, 03 April 2008, Thursday
With dead toll as many as 50, its time the health authorities in East Garo Hills wake up. There is the likelihood of an epidemic outbreak and cases of malaria and meningitis are on the rise. Better medical facilities are needed to curb the outbreak.
ITS THAT time of the year, when the remote areas of Meghalaya fall in the trap of various seasonal outbreak of diseases; malaria being the number one killer. The recent outbreak of meningitis, with the dead toll of more than 50 in East Garo Hills, proves the grim state of affairs.
Though the officials, in the health department have put the figure to only four till date. The report from the affected areas goes to prove that more than 50 people have died due to fever-like diseases ? possibility of meningitis is not ruled out. This is just the figure of March alone. Areas like Samanda, Rongjeng, Mangsang and Songsak of East Garo Hills are the worst affected. However, the health authorities in the state capital Shillong have not yet issued any official statement on the outbreak.
The doctors in Garo Hills and disease and surveillance officers who were on a visit to these areas have confirmed the epidemic in Rongjeng, Songsak and Samanda. These doctors, who have the updated information, told that 38 persons have been officially declared death.
The officer said that, it was not a serious outbreak. The death according to them was due to fever like symptoms and not meningitis. She told that 50 people have died in East Garo Hills in the month of March.
The new Health Minister, Dr Advisor Pariong was not available for any comment. It may be mentioned that on March 30, the Directorate of Information and Public Relations has also issued an official release with priority label that 30 were reported to be death due to fever spread by meningococcal meningitis.
It is not just a question of patients dying of meningitis or malaria. But it is a serious case where people from remote areas have died. Health authorities need to really strengthen up its measures to combat the outbreak of diseases.
Though Rapid Response team is already at these affected areas, detail information has not been provided yet.
It may be noted for the last 15 days in Songsak area of East Garo Hills, the cause of the death is still not known. The main question is: What is the cause of these deaths? Why have the health authorities acted negatively to these figures?
Death toll in March 2008:
Cheran village: 30 dead, with another three dead on Monday
Sinal Bolong: 25 dead
Jamge and surrounding areas: 13 dead
Dongkong: Nine dead
Total death: 78 dead
Is it not alarming?
The local MLA of the area, Mihir D Shira told a local newspaper, ?The medical teams deputed to the villages are not equipped to deal with these diseases. The whole situation is out of control and I request the health department to take up the issue immediately.? The health ministry has already announced a date to convene a meeting in Guwahati to discuss this issue. The meeting is slated for April 9.
Beginning from the month of March every year people in various parts of Garo Hills die mostly due to malaria. It is worth mentioning that both malaria and meningitis have similar symptoms.
Garo Hills district have seen various epidemics over the years. In the last two year more than 200 official malarial deaths have been reported. The worst affected places are in the Indo-Bangla border areas. In one of the worst epidemic in Garo Hills, in May 2007, 18 people died in a week in Purakhasia alone, due to malaria. The area, which is close to the Indo-Bangla border, has seen similar deaths, many times in the last several years.
These figures demand attention. Shying away for the fact will make the situation worse.