Source: Hueiyen News Service
Moreh, August 03 2009:
With no merciful break from the oppressive summer heat, the residents of the border town between India and Myanmar, Moreh are gripped with viral fever.
The number of patients suffering from the disease is increasing at a startling rate.
Around 20-25 patients infected with viral fever have been treated daily at Moreh Hospital since several days before.
Several others, reported to have suffered from unknown diseases, have also been referred to hospitals in Imphal.
The woes of the Moreh residents and nearby border villagers are compounded with the shortage of staff and accommodations at the 50-beded Moreh hospital.
The lack of specialist doctors in several departments of the hospital and outstation doctors are added disadvantages.
The hospital is presently run by a doctor, Amusana and a handful of staff nurses.
The tireless efforts of the doctor and the nurses who work round the clock have help the patients to some extend.
Medicines went out of stock due to the ongoing economic blockade on the two highways of the state.
The blockade has also worsened the condition of the people who live hand to mouth.
It may be mentioned that the Meitei Council Moreh (MCM) and AMSU Chandel committee have urged the State Medical Director during his visit to the hospital to provide adequate staff and infrastructure in the hospital.
But nothing positive has been seen towards this end.
Interacting with this Correspondent, patients at Moreh hospital said essential medicines could not be found in the hospital.
A single doctor could not attend all the patients satisfactorily.
This has sometimes caused misunderstanding among the patients.
The patients conveyed that adequate doctors and staff be posted at the hospital and sufficient infrastructure be provided.
Meanwhile, malarial fever is said to be widely prevalent at Kwatha Khunou village, 18 kilometres away from Moreh Police station near border pillar number 81.The MCM and AMSU, in collaboration with the malarial department of Moreh hospital had conducted a free medical camp on Sunday at the village.
Fogging of anti-malaria sprays was also carried out extensively in the areas apart from distributing medicines free of cost.
The MCM and AMSU had also handed ten bags of rice to the villagers as relief measure.
There is no health centre and primary school in this border village inhabited by around 32 households.