Source: The Sangai Express
Imphal, Aug 23:
Outbreak of malaria in the remote Nungpan village of Chandel district reportedly claimed the lives of two persons in the month of July this year.
The victims have been identified as HB Rongsung (60) and his son HB Baras (30) of Nungpan village under Chakpikarong Block of Chandel district.
HB Baras died on July 22 and his father HB Rongsung on July 23.When The Sangai Express went to confirm the report, the villagers informed that HB Baras and his father HB Rongsung were admitted to Chakpikarong Primary Health Centre for treatment.
But as the condition deteriorated, they were referred to RIMS Hospital, but they breathed their last before reaching the hospital.
Medical Officer of the PHC at Chakpikarong Dr Ibomcha said HB Baras was admitted to the PHC on July 22 in a critical condition.
After giving some treatment, he was referred to RIMS Hospital at Imphal but unfortunately he passed away on the way.
On receiving the report of the death of Baras from malaria, Dr Ibomcha said he himself went to Nungpan village to conduct medical check of the people the following day.
There he came to know that Baras's father Rongsung had also been infected with Malaria.
After giving the necessary treatment and medicine, the family members were advised to take him to RIMS.
Following the advice of the medical team, Rongsung was taken to RIMS that day itself, but he also passed away on the way, the MO said, adding that he had submitted a report to the CMO concerned for conducting medical camp in the area.
However there has been no response from the side of the CMO nor from the Medical Directorate, the MO alleged.
Despite being a malariaproned area, out of the required two MOs, there is only one MO at the only PHC of the area.
Though the Health Directorates has issued an order two months back for one Dr Birchandra to join the PHC, the doctor in questioned has not yet arrived at his new place of posting till date, Dr Ibomcha, who is the only MO presently looking after the health centre, said.
On the failure of conducting the medical camp in time, Dr Ibomcha said after almost half a month of having submitted the report of outbreak of malaria, he met the CMO on the way one day and reminded the matter during which the latter maintained that a report had been forwarded to the Health Directorate for conducting the medical camp.
Some days after that, only one paramedical staff arrived for conducting the medical camp.
Since only two persons cannot conduct the medical camp successfully, only few patients who turned up at the occasion were examined, Dr Ibomcha informed.
Meanwhile, a team of medical staff led by Dr Lalhring, the District TB Officer, Chandel, has reached Sajik Tampak yesterday for conducting medical camps at various places including Sugnu and Chakpikarong.
The medical team had also taken all the required medicines and around 600 mosquito nets to be distributed among the villagers, according to sources.