Health crisis: Adilabad on alert as cholera spreads

BOATH (ADILABAD): Poor sanitation and polluted drinking water in villages have led to a rise in cholera cases in Adilabad district. According to sources, there are six confirmed cases in the district. These patients are from Kauta (B), Kanigutta, Pochera and Nigini villages of Boath mandal.

Dr Rahul of the Boath Community Health Centre, however, said that the cases were yet to be confirmed as cholera, and they had sent stool samples of two of the patients for medical tests to RIMS, which had forwarded them to Apollo Hospital in Hyderabad.

District medical and health officer Jalapath Naik was camping at the health centre and had been monitoring the situation for the last two days. District collector M. Jagan Mohan visited the health centre on Wednesday and interacted with the patients undergoing treatment there.

He also spoke with the DMHO and doctors about the situation and the condition of the patients. The collector also visited Kauta (B) as most of the patients came from there.

Brothers Sandeep and Pardeep, both below five years of age, of Darbha Thanda in Neredigonda were admitted to the Boath Government Hospital on Wednesday. They, too, were suffering from loose motions.

Dr Naik said that the senior health officer of Boath was looking after the patients and he had sent their stool samples to RIMS for confirmation of cholera. The report was awaited.

Poor sanitation and lack of chlorination is causing seasonal diseases in the villages. Officials of the panchayat raj department and RWS have failed to take up adequate measures to prevent these seasonal diseases.

Piles of garbage up and unclean drainage are regular scenes in the villages and village revenue secretaries, sarpanches and health and sanitation committees are inactive.

Five Basic Prevention Steps
Drink and use safe water, which is either boiled or treated it with a chlorine product or household bleach.
Wash hands with soap and safe water.
Use latrines or bury your faeces; do not defecate in any water body.
Clean latrines and surfaces contaminated with faeces using bleach water.
Cook food well, keep it covered, eat it hot, and peel fruits and vegetables.