Thousands of people living in the Agency area of Bhadrachalam division are suffering from viral fevers such as malaria during the rainy season, particularly from August to October, every year. Godavari flood water inundating hundreds of villages in 14 mandals in the Bhadrachalam revenue division is an annual feature. This year too, the flood waters marooned several villages and towns. Apart from inflicting loss of life and collateral damage, the floods are giving rise to malaria cases in these mandals. The poor sanitary conditions are just worsening the situation.
Most doctors working at the primary health centres in the division are living in Bhadrachalam and attending to work in the mandals. Because they are inaccessible most of the time, poor people are forced to visit private hospitals to get treatment. Registered medical practitioners and other non-qualified doctors are exploiting the poor and innocent tribal people living in these areas.
Hygiene takes a beating and sanitary conditions worsen with floods occurring to the Godavari river flood affected areas every year. It will take at least one month to restore normalcy as mud and garbage is piling up in villages once the flood water recedes.
Tribal people living in eight mandals in Bhadrachalam division are suffering from malaria and other viral fevers this season. In all, 15 villages in Bhadrachalam mandal, eight in Charla mandal, eight in Venkatapuram mandal, six in Dammugudem mandal and several in Kunavaram, Chintoor, VR Puram mandals are severely affected due to floods. The district officials sent only 80 bags of bleaching powder and 90 bags of lime by August 10 to take up cleaning operations.
Villagers said the small quantity is not sufficient to clean up the dozens of villages. District medical and health officer Dr G Rambabu said more bags would be dispatched soon. He said 760 persons tested positive for malaria against the blood samples collected from 2,07,619 persons in 1,106 villages in the district.
He said 2.60 lakh nets were distributed and anti-larvae and mosquito operations like fogging and spraying were taken up in these villages.
Spraying machines will be distributed in all affected villages.