PHC cares a damn for villagers'

Two months ago when some of the plantation workers fell sick complaining of fever and headache, in Thanudi village, they went to the Balehole Government Primary Health Centre but they failed to get appropriate treatment as the doctor there had been transferred from the health centre after facing charges of corrupt practices.

Hence, the ailing workers had to go all the way to NR Pura for treatment. When the doctors at NR Pura hospital too could not find out the exact reason behind the sickness of the workers, the patients were sent to Mangalore Wenlock Hospital, where it was ascertained that the patients are suffering from rat fever. At present as many as 25 patients have been affected by rat fever and are made to go to Sirsi and Mangalore for treatment.

Following this, a team of health officials did visit some of the areas in the taluk where plantation workers are living in large numbers. The team vanished after recommending the workers to drink boiled water.

The department did not take the issue seriously even when Geetha (27), daughter of Kalasegowda from Thanudi died due to rat fever.

District Health Officer Dr Eshwarappa said that the department got the news of rat fever in the region only a month ago.

“We have gone to places where cases of rat fever were reported and we had educated the people on various ways of protecting themselves against the disease. Necessary tablets have been distributed to people. There is no need to panic because the fever is curable,” he said.

Balehole Auto Drivers Association President Amarnath, taking exception to the version of the officials says that one person has lost life and five have had a close encounter with death due to rat fever but the officials are not doing anything to protect people.

Amarnath said that let alone latest technologies, Balehole Public Helath Centre does not even have a permanent doctor.

Karnataka Rakshana Vedike Leader Ravi Rai has said that if the situation in the PHC is not improved in a week, then Vedike will stage protest in front of Health Department office.