Malaria menace in Arunachal, toll touches 75

Itanagar, Aug 5; Killer malaria has once again reared its ugly head in Arunachal Pradesh with the scourge claiming ten more lives in Tirap district, thereby taking the toll in the state to 75.

Apart from inadequate surveillance and proper counter measures by the state Health department, the spread of the menace like wild fire was attributed to acute shortage of medicines in many places of the state.

MLA Wanki Lowang informed that the latest ten deaths were reported from Deomali, Namsang and Auguri Pathar villages under Deomali sub-division of Tirap district, where 17 deaths had been officially recorded during May-June last.

When the MLA, accompanied by Tirap Deputy Commissioner T Tapok, paid a surprise visit to the Deomali primary health centre yesterday, they were aghast to find no doctor or any medicine in the said PHC.

Although a homeopathic doctor besides two lady medical officers were officially posted there, none had joined duty and were seeking legal aid to get their transfers cancelled, while the poor people were left high and dry and deprived of basic medical facilities, he lamented.

Considering the grim situation, the Legislator had appealed to the Health department to urgently rush manpower and medicines to provide succour to the suffering masses.

The same was the case of the medics posted in Seppa district hospital under East Kameng district of the state.

Despite issue of necessary transfer orders by the Health Director, these specialist medics posted in the said hospital refused to join their duties, citing inadequate basic amenities, including electricity and accommodation.

The Health Director was left with no option but to find an alternative and was contemplating posting young and recently recruited doctors in their places.

UNI