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http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmo...g=Disease+claim+45+lives+in+Talwara&id=93289#javascript:PopEmail('http://ndtv.co...er-borne disease claims 45 lives in Talwara') [FONT=verdana,trebuchet ms,georgia]Water-borne disease claims 45 lives in Talwara[/FONT] <HR width="100%" color=#9a0000>
Zafar Iqbal
Saturday, September 16, 2006 (Talwara, Reasi):
The Talwara village in Reasi district is facing a tragedy caused mainly by unhygienic conditions and lack of health care facilities.
A water-borne disease has claimed at least 45 lives in Talwara and its adjoining villages in just two months.
"A strange disease has hit the area, many people have fallen ill so far and many others have died, many people are ill in our area," said Munshi Ram, a villager.
The village is 80 km from Jammu. This was the village where desperate poverty drove people to mortgage their own children for money, a shocking story that made headlines three months ago.
Common symptoms of the disease are severe vomiting and diarrhea, followed by death in critical cases. But while villagers call it a mystery disease, doctors say the symptoms point to a water-borne infection due to unhygienic conditions.
"There is a village in the interiors of Reasi where the cases have been recorded. It can be due to impure water in the rainy season. The people drink water from the springs, there is no other reason," said V M Sharma, block Medical Officer, Reasi.
Lack of medical facilities
But perhaps more serious than the disease itself is the fact that there aren't any doctors or para-medical staff to treat infected people.
The lone dispensary in the village has been shut for several months now. Villagers say timely treatment could have prevented the tragedy.
"Two to three people die here daily, there are no doctors in the villages, and whenever the doctors come they just do the formalities, and do not give any medicines to us," said Milkhi Ram, a villager.
More than 5000 people fled militancy-affected areas and settled down in Reasi. Acute poverty had forced them to sell their own children.
But now they are fighting disease and death. And due to continuing administrative neglect, it seems to be a losing battle.
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Disease+claim+45+lives+in+Talwara&id=93289
Zafar Iqbal
Saturday, September 16, 2006 (Talwara, Reasi):
The Talwara village in Reasi district is facing a tragedy caused mainly by unhygienic conditions and lack of health care facilities.
A water-borne disease has claimed at least 45 lives in Talwara and its adjoining villages in just two months.
"A strange disease has hit the area, many people have fallen ill so far and many others have died, many people are ill in our area," said Munshi Ram, a villager.
The village is 80 km from Jammu. This was the village where desperate poverty drove people to mortgage their own children for money, a shocking story that made headlines three months ago.
Common symptoms of the disease are severe vomiting and diarrhea, followed by death in critical cases. But while villagers call it a mystery disease, doctors say the symptoms point to a water-borne infection due to unhygienic conditions.
"There is a village in the interiors of Reasi where the cases have been recorded. It can be due to impure water in the rainy season. The people drink water from the springs, there is no other reason," said V M Sharma, block Medical Officer, Reasi.
Lack of medical facilities
But perhaps more serious than the disease itself is the fact that there aren't any doctors or para-medical staff to treat infected people.
The lone dispensary in the village has been shut for several months now. Villagers say timely treatment could have prevented the tragedy.
"Two to three people die here daily, there are no doctors in the villages, and whenever the doctors come they just do the formalities, and do not give any medicines to us," said Milkhi Ram, a villager.
More than 5000 people fled militancy-affected areas and settled down in Reasi. Acute poverty had forced them to sell their own children.
But now they are fighting disease and death. And due to continuing administrative neglect, it seems to be a losing battle.
http://www.ndtv.com/morenews/showmorestory.asp?category=National&slug=Disease+claim+45+lives+in+Talwara&id=93289