:: News Plus

Cholera-affected in Orissa get corporate relief

Akshaya Kumar Sahoo

Finally, a ray of hope has emerged for hundreds of cholera-affected people in the poverty-stricken Kalahandi district of Orissa. Corporate houses and individuals have started lending their helping hand to mitigate the problem. Global alumina majors Vedanta Alumina Limited (VAL), and Bharat Aluminium Company Limited (BALCO) and a few other voluntary organisations have launched their programmes in the district to check the epidemic.

Corporate houses have set up temporary medical camps in seven villages in the hilly and dense forested tribal terrains while voluntary organisations are reportedly focusing on awareness drives on sourcing drinking water and sanitised food.

The medical teams deployed by the business houses are providing primary treatment and medicines to the affected persons. Critical patients are being sent to the nearest hospital for comprehensive treatment.

In the last seven days, health teams have provided treatment to more than 200 affected people and referred more than 20 patients to the local health centres. The villages — where temporary camps have been set up — are Kankutaru, Bandhapari, Musanal, Bengaon, Trilochanpur, Bijepur and Malijubang in the Lanjigarh block.

"We assure all support for the prevention of the disease and we will continue the same for more time till the situation comes under control," Dr Mukesh Kumar, chief operating officer of VAL, said. Besides, Vedanta has started a few other programmes to improve the health status of the community living on the periphery of its operation. Mobile health units (MHUs) have been pressed into action to provide doorstep services to nearly 32,000 people in 53 villages. The company has also organised 132 sanitation camps and animal vaccination camps.

As a prevention measure, the corporate houses have taken up several awareness building initiatives in the area. Big banners have been put in villages to sensitise the local communities on control of the disease. The corporate social responsibility (CSR) team members are also visiting the affected area and explaining people about prevention and control methods for cholera and diarrhoea.

It may be noted here that after this newspaper highlighted the plight of the people in Kalahandi, the state administration has intensified its health services delivery system in the area.

According to the official reports, 27 people have died of cholera in the district in the past few weeks while the non-official sources claim 60 deaths.