TNI Bureau: The state could have witnessed insufficient rain this year, but the diseases like Dengue and Diarrhea are on rise claiming hundreds of lives in several districts. Despite several precautions and measures taken by the government of Odisha, people are still living in unhygienic environment, which is the major factor for spreading the diseases during rainy season.
According to government data, at least 136 people have died so far in 2012 of diarrhea in the state. While 27 causalities have been reported from Nuapada district, Nabarangpur witnessed 10, Keonjhar reported 10, Ganjam 9, Malkangiri 8, Kalahandi 4 and one each was reported from Dhenkanal and Balangir districts. The data showed that around 3,727 have suffered from diarrhea this year.
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To control and prevent the epidemics, the government has started an awareness campaign ‘Malaria, Dengue and Diarrhea prevention programme’, which works for 15 days in August every year. Under the programme, the government provides financial assistance for taking the affected patients to the hospitals.
Another programme ‘Nidhi Mausa Dakuchi Asa, Malaria, Dengue, Diarrhoea Kariba Nasa’ has also been launched to fight Dengue and diarrhea in the state.
The state health department is also providing Rs 9,100 and subsidy to each BPL family under Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act (MGNREGA) to accelerate the sanitation program to keep the environment clean.