Jaundice returns to haunt Odisha’s Cuttack

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack, Mar 24:

About a year after affecting hundreds, Jaundice has returned to Odisha’s Cuttack and is spreading at an alarming pace.

Even though the district administration didn’t reveal the exact number of patients affected so far this year, a source in the administration said that 17 people have been affected by the water borne decease in Nuasahi of Jobra area alone.

Many civil society organisations, however, disputed the number and put the number at as high as 50.

“Not only Nuasahi, but also areas such as Talasahi, Chinapitasahi and Majhisahi in Jobra area of the city have been affected by the disease. Despite a budgetary allocation of Rs 17 crore by the State Government for repair of the water supply pipelines and installation of new ones, the progress evidently has been very little to show off,” said a health advisor of a local NGO.

Cuttack Collector and CDMO today held a meeting to take stock of the Jaundice outbreak in the town.

Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Cuttack Collector said that special arrangements are being made at SCB Medical College and Hospital for treatment of Jaundice affected patients.

It may be mentioned here that the millennium city had a very similar situation during February and March, 2015 with hundreds of patients affected by the deadly disease.

Even after all the big talks, the authorities have clearly learnt very little from past experience.