By Md. Ali, TwoCircles.net,
Patna: Sensing the gravity of the post-flood public health conditions in Bihar, a team of doctors from Aligarh Muslim University has reached Supaul district, one of the worst flood affected districts in northeastern Bihar.
The team has 4 pediatricians, 4 doctors from medicine department, 1 from community medicine, 2 MBBS and 2 BUMS. Dr. Arshad Anjum, an MD (Biochemistry) is heading the team.
They have divided into two groups; one is camping in Govindpur area and another in Dokaniya area in the district. These are the two areas along side the embankment area which hasn’t yet been covered by any relief or rescue team.
Talking to TwoCircles.net Dr. Arshad Anjum said, “The area where we are now was completely affected by the flood, but now the situation has changed as the water level has gone down and out of the homes.”
The doctor pointed out, “the area is very easily accessible. But the tragedy is and this is what shocks me that it has not been covered yet by anyone, although it has got roads which connect it to rest of the district.”
He further said that the villagers need relief material, some necessary medicines and most important of all drinking water, their houses need DDT sprayed so that all the communicable diseases could be checked.
“The health situation is pathetic here. You will find many animals lying dead inviting many deadly epidemics. One flood has come and gone but now it is the turn of another flood and that is the deadly epidemics. All the water-born diseases like malaria and typhoid are bound to occur. In fact we did see some patients with these diseases. It will be very difficult to handle them if some urgent steps are not taken immediately,” Dr. Anjum added.
“The spray of chlorination and DDT is needed immediately. My team examined 600 patients today itself. We are seeing to patients here. They don’t have drinking water, chlorine tablets and no health team has reached them yet.”
The doctor said that the people are very happy that at least some people from Aligarh have come and are helping them.
Asked about the difficulties they are facing in treating people, he said that the stock of the medicines they brought from Aligarh is running out. So they have asked for it from the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) but he has some problems in providing them the medicines, probably the local health department doesn’t have enough medicines.
He informed that the CMO of the area is a young man who has assumed the charge four days back.
“Although the DM is very cooperative but the local officers like BDO and others are not all helpful and present all kinds of excuses when someone asks for their help,” Dr. Anjum told TCN.
Dr. Anjum said that on September 19 their teams will visit an area called Surjapur with the help of the Army boat. There are around six hundred people in the village. They will be camping there and inform people of adjacent villages to come to the medical camp.
Link:
http://www.twocircles.net/2008sep04/bihar_flood_organizations_collecting_funds_relief.html