Medical staff insult endosulfan victims' caretakers

The staff of a mobile medical unit reportedly humiliated the caretakers of endosulfan victims in Kumbra village of Puttur taluk on Friday.

Sources told DH that the staff were greeted with hostility as a 15-year-old bed-ridden endosulfan victim Mohammed Anees passed away barely a week ago. Although the house is located barely two kilometres away from Thingalady primary health centre, no staff member from the mobile unit had visited the patient.

“Chenda nodalikke bandadda? (Have you come to mock our situation?)” Anees’ parents asked.

In another household, Radha Ganesh demanded an explanation on why the staff members had never visited her house for the past two years although her 20-year-old daughter Akshatha had been identified as a bed-ridden endosulfan victim.

‘Give in writing’

The staff members reportedly responded by humiliating the caretakers and seeking in writing from them that they did not want the services of the mobile medical unit.

RTI activist Sanjeeva Kabaka said that the staff should not have been arrogant. The caretakers needed some convincing, he added.

Incidentally, Anees passed away with his request for water bed never being fulfilled by the Health department. Radha’s request for a water bed too had received no response from the department.