Thiruvananthapuram: Chickenpox at relief camp

Thiruvananthapuram: The relief camp at Valiyathura Government UP School, which houses over 300 people including children and elderly, is in the grip of contagious diseases with reporting of chickenpox, H1N1 cases. According to District Medical Office (DMO) five members of the camp including children are down with chickenpox raising serious concern for the health authorities.  

“We shifted them to the Chickenpox ward at Iranimuttom government hospital. We have been keeping them at the isolation ward for the past couple of days but they refused to stay there and got discharged. We took up the issue with the district administration. The authorities intervened and moved them to a rented house to ensure the safety of the others at the camp. There are small children at the camp,” said an official.

According to the DMO, the relief camp at Valiyathura is turning into a major headache as the people are living there long term.

“There are around 300 people at the camp and they are not ready to leave the place without getting compensation. Only those who stay at the camp will be included in the rehabilitation package,” the official added.

With the situation worsening, the DMO has decided to take it up with the District Collector to intervene and move the people from the camps. “We have been trying to convince them to accept the package offered by the government. The fisheries and revenue departments would be granting `10 lakh for each home lost in the sea erosion. `6 lakh would be allotted for buying land and `4 lakh for constructing a home,” said an official.