Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Keonjhar, Aug 23:

With alleged malnutrition deaths at inaccessible Nagada village on the hilltop in Jajpur district fresh in mind, a series of deaths in Mahadeijoda has exposed the failing healthcare facilities in Odisha.

mahadeijoda

The death of an infant from Mahadeijoda in Keonjhar district in the wee hours today has taken the toll to 10.

The fatalities have been reported in a span of 30 days from the tribal-dominated and mineral-rich district of Odisha.

The latest death was reported early this morning after a three-year-old boy identified as Raidas Nayak breathed his last at the District Headquarters Hospital (DHH). Nayak was admitted to the hospital on Sunday where his blood samples tested positive for Malaria.

The deceased hailed from Bhuiyan Sahi near Naupada under Mahadeijoda in the district.

According to reports, the situation is grim in the village as over 20 people are affected with the mosquito-borne infectious disease. Five-year-old Manas, brother of the deceased, is also admitted to the DHH with the vector-borne disease in a serious condition.

On the other hand, six more persons have been admitted to the DHH today.

“People are suffering from high fever and are dying due to this unknown fever. We do not have healthcare facility nearby,” a villager said.

Meanwhile, a medical team from Padmapur Community Health Centre (CHC) today visited the affected village to provide health facility to the residents. Besides, chemicals were sprayed at places to stop breeding of mosquitoes so as to prevent further spread of the disease.

Mamuni Behera (7), Damburudhara Mahanta (45), Laxmidhar Munda (40), Lakhan Munda (62), Narendra Mahanta (9), Kasturi Behera (25), Basu Patra (40), Bisi Munda (67) and, Sukumari Munda (62) of the tribal village have died in the last one month.