BHUBANESWAR: With the outbreak of jaundice in Jharana Basti at Sishu Bhavan area and four slums of Damana area in City, the State Government has directed Urban Development and Health Departments to adopt exigent measures to contain the spread of the disease.
Sources said so far, 22 cases of jaundice have been detected in both the localities. While residents in these areas blamed the supply water of Public Health Engineering Organisation (PHEO) for the outbreak, sample survey by PHEO and other allied organisations found the water to be safe and clean.
“The well water, widely used for domestic purposes, is infected. We have mobilised 25 water tankers in both the areas to supply potable water to the residents and insisted them to refrain from using water from the well,” Engineer-in-Chief, PHEO S Laxmipati said.
“Open defecation is rampant in these areas. Besides, all household latrines discharge into major drains. Subsequently, seepage of polluted water from the drains contaminates the well water,” City Heath Officer Dr Chandrika Prasad Dash said.
Meanwhile, Municipal Commissioner Dr Krishan Kumar met Urban Development Minister Pushpendra Singhdeo and Health Secretary Arti Ahuja separately and chalked out a slew of measures to prevent the disease from taking the shape of an epidemic.
On the day, all the wells in and around Jharana Basti were chlorinated and halogen tablets and bleaching powder distributed in households. Around 21,000 halogen tablets were distributed by City health office, sources said.
A team led by Dr Dash along with sanitary officers and staff conducted a door-to-door survey and checked health conditions of the residents. The slums in Jharana Basti and Damana area have been placed under close surveillance.
A core group has been formed with officers from Public Health and Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC) to monitor the situation.
City-based volunteer groups, Anganwadi centres and BMC staff have started distributing information, education and communication materials on awareness for prevention of jaundice in vulnerable areas. The drive will be taken up in all the slums of the City.
RDC Takes Stock of Cuttack Situation
Cuttack: Revenue Divisional Commissioner (RDC), Central Range Akhil Bihari Ota on Friday conducted a review meeting and took stock of jaundice situation in the Millennium City. It was revealed at the meeting that of the total 59 Wards of Cuttack Municipality Corporation (CMC), 33 are vulnerable and 15 are critically vulnerable to the spread of the disease. Ota directed the officials concerned to complete repair and replacement works and restore leakage-free pipe water supply in 15 critically vulnerable Wards by April. He has given May 15 deadline for restoration of pipe water supply in the rest 18 vulnerable Wards. So far, 54 persons have been affected by jaundice in the city so far. E