Recurring bane for Visakha Agency

Lack of clean drinking water, low awareness are just some of the problems

October 26, 2019 06:17 pm | Updated October 27, 2019 09:47 am IST - Visakhapatnam

Diseases like malaria, dengue, viral fevers, chikungunya and typhoid are a recurrent feature in Agency areas of Visakhapatnam every year, thanks to insanitary conditions and lack of access to clean drinking water.

With awareness being low in the interior regions, the tribal villagers often neglect taking medical aid till the last minute, resulting in death.

Visakhapatnam Agency, with a population of about 6.5 lakh in 3,500 tribal hamlets, is the biggest tribal region in Andhra Pradesh. Apart from the lack of clean drinking water, the absence of proper communication facilities and deeply entrenched superstitions and traditions are other issues.

Outsiders are viewed with suspicion in interior tribal areas, which is why it is essential to rope in locals for promoting health awareness. Usage of modern medicines will also go a long way in tackling the spread of diseases.

The maximum number of cases reported in the Agency areas this year are of typhoid, followed by malaria, dengue, diarrhoea and swine flu. Many hamlets cannot be reached as road connectivity has been cut off due to rains. Some hamlets do not have roads at all. "Pipelines have been laid from the water sources in the hills but storage tanks have not been constructed and the water is not filtered before it is diverted to the hamlets. The water is being contaminated at the source during the rainy season and the muddy water is being tapped and consumed by the tribal people," said P. Appalanarasa, general secretary, Girijana Sangham.

"The stagnation of water and poor sanitation are leading to the outbreak of viral fevers. Garbage remains piled up at Araku and Paderu, Chintapalli and Narsipatnam mandal headquarters most of the time and the panchayats do not seem to be bothered about the situation," he said.

‘Govt. dilly-dallying’

"Though the previous TDP government upgraded the hospitals at Araku, Paderu and Munichigput, the facilities have not been improved. The Area Hospitals at Araku and Paderu have only seven and six doctors respectively as against the requirement of 18 for an Area Hospital. After several representations by PAV, a couple of doctors were appointed at Munchingput," said T. Kameswara Rao, State general secretary, Praja Arogya Vedika (PAV).

"The undue delay in the payment of wages to the field staff is also telling upon the quality of their work. The Jagan Mohan Reddy government has announced the establishment of a medical college at Paderu but there seems to be some dilly-dallying on the site and in the meantime, the shortage of doctors is continuing," he said.

Uphill challenge

"Some of the hamlets are unreachable as the road connectivity has been cut off due to the rains. Our staff is fanning out to the interior hamlets and conducting medical camps in spite of the difficulties," Dr. K. Leela Prasad, Additional DM & HO, told The Hindu.

"Those affected by viral fevers, dengue and swine flu should remain at home to avoid spreading the disease to others in public places. People should wash their hands thoroughly with soap and keep a safe distance from those coughing and sneezing," said Dr. L. Kalyan Prasad, Swine Flu Nodal Officer.

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