Alleged callousness of district health authorities in Mysore has led to the death of four children due to dengue in over six days in D Salundi village. Authorities finally put the village, about 12 km from Mysore, on high alert on Friday. At present, 48 patients are being treated with at least 30 of them with confirmed dengue.
Dengue patients have been streaming into the J S S Hospital in Mysore since May 1. According to a source in the hospital, though district health authorities were informed about the situation, nobody visited the village.
The result was the death of four children. Preetham (6) was the first to die last Saturday, followed by Ravichandra (5), Yashashwini (6) and Sushmitha (18 months). Health authorities state that about 20 others, mostly children in the age group of 3-13 years belonging to Danagalli and Kenchalagudu, are now undergoing treatment in JSS, Cheluvamba and Vatsalya Hospitals in Mysore.
Shocked villagers lashed out at the authorities. “Water is being supplied to our village once in 15 days. Two borewells have gone defunct. We have been storing water and that is how the dengue spread. If authorities had bothered to care for us, four precious lives could have been saved,” said Basavaraju Achari, Preetham’s uncle.
The situation at the hospitals was heart-rending. Jayamma, Preetham’s mother, was desperate, as she barely has time to get over the shock of losing her son to the disease. Her younger daughter Priyanka is being treated for the disease. “I am hoping they will be able to at least save her,’’ she said.
Health Minister U T Khader, who visited the hospitals, expressed shock at the situation. He said the government was unaware that the situation was so serious.
A temporary health care centre was opened on Friday in a government school at D Salundi and a door-to-door survey has been undertaken to identify those with symptoms of dengue. Officials have camped in the village.
People with symptoms like fever, joint pain and rashes have been advised to get their blood tested and if required, referred to hospitals in Mysore. Tablets like paracetamol and amoxicillin are being administered.
An awareness campaign was carried out in the village with posters explaining steps to be taken to control the disease. Temofos was added to the stored water to control breeding of larvae, and fogging was carried out. ASHA health workers instructed villagers to filter stored water once in three days and change the vessels to prevent breeding of larvae.
District Health Officer Male Gowda said the temporary health centre will continue till the situation comes under control. Deputy Commissioner C Shikha, who visited the village, said steps have been taken to ensure the disease does not spread.
MLA G T Deve Gowda asked officials to take steps to tide over the water crisis and open a special ward for dengue patients at K R Hospital. He urged the government to announce `1 lakh compensation for the kin of the dead.