Hospital lacks doctors, villagers opt for quacks in Jagatsinghpur

Blame it on  shortage of doctors in the coastal villages of Jagatsinghpur district or illiteracy and ignorance, spiritual healing is on the rise here.
Image used for representational purpose
Image used for representational purpose

JAGATSINGHPUR: Blame it on shortage of doctors in the coastal villages of Jagatsinghpur district or illiteracy and ignorance, spiritual healing is on the rise here. Poor villagers often consider the spiritual healers, belonging to various sects, as alternatives to medical treatment. Over the years, priests of different sects had been minting money by providing unscientific remedies to the gullible villagers.

Activists in the district alleged that at times these healers torture, rape or murder their ‘patients’. “Many cases of torture and rape had been suppressed by the villagers, owing to a blind faith in these healers,” activists said. In a recent case, a mentally-retarded woman was allegedly murdered by another woman and her daughter of Balia village under Kujang police limits, while the duo was attempting to cure the patient of her disease.

Locals claimed that more than 50 healers had been running their business in the district, currently. “They sit in rooms, putting up pictures of goddesses and vials of animal blood, bones and wine. They apparently summon evil spirits to solve various problems, ranging from ailment, joblessness to relationship issues,” locals added.

Activist Samir Kumar Sahoo claimed that the healers had been taking advantage of the absence of quality healthcare services in remote areas. Sahoo had also sought the intervention of higher authorities and police to check this practice.

Even as activists expressed their concern, ignorant villagers continue to believe in such practices. Sukant Swain, a resident of Tirtol area, said his 12-year-old daughter was once under the control of evil spirits. “Taking a neighbour’s advice, I took the child to a faith healer. He tied her to a tree to cast the spirits out. Now, she is fine,” Swain added.

Contacted, In-charge Chief District Medical Officer Maheswer Pradhan said there is no psychiatrist to treat the mentally retarded in District Headquarters Hospital, Jagatsinghpur. Thus, villagers depend on spiritual powers. Recently, the administration had rescued nearly 15 mentally retarded persons in Paradip and Jagatsinghpur with the help of police’, he added.

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