Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, July 30:
Lack or total absence of health care services in rural areas of Ukhrul district has irked the people who are reeling under the impact of onslaught of seasonal epidemic and has urged the Health Minister and CMO Ukhrul for ensuring functioning of the only health sub-centre for Litan area.
Foothill villages Development Partnership Co-ordination Committee, which was formed in view of non-functioning of institutional services in the hills and in recognition of the need for participation of civil society in governance to ensure accountability had undertaken a survey of the existing health care services in the area in 2003 and submitted a shocking report of 135 avoidable deaths in five villages in five years since 199 was reported to the authority, a Committee statement said.
Subsequently an official request was also made to the CMO Ukhrul to ensure functioning of the only health sub-centre at Mong-kot-Chepu.
Only after several visits to the elusive CMO, a doctor was assign-ed to look after the Mong-kot-Chepu Health Sub-Centre (vide order no.1/B/ SMO/Ukhrul dated 16th August, 2004).However, the said doctor never joined at his new place of posting by saying that his place is at Lambui and not Mongkot Chepu, the Committee lamented, and added whether the said doctor attends to his duty at Lambui health centre is another question.
A second survey was also undertaken this year in six villages of the area under Mongkot Chepu Sub-Centre and it revealed that 388 villagers are suffering from various seasonal ailments with Sikibung, a village of 65 families alone accounting for 123 such cases.
The area is prone to malarial fever, Gastrolitis and seasonal viral fever, according to the Committee.