NABARANGPUR: Superstition continues to hold a firm grip over the illiterates in remote pockets of the State. In order to combat the social menace, particularly in healthcare sector, Anganwadi and Asha workers have been appointed in those areas.
Though it is the fundamental responsibility of the trained workers to extend first aid and ensure modern medical treatment for women and children, the social care-takers resort to superstition and traditional practices. In one such incident in the district, an Anganwadi worker subjected her baby to be treated with hot iron rods.
The incident took place at Butipadar village situated around 5 km from the district headquarters town of Nabarangpur. Rukmani Kisan, the Anganwadi worker of the village, gave birth to a baby boy 28 days back. After birth, the child’s stomach swelled and he was crying non-stop.
Then Rukmani contacted a ‘Dishari’ (tribal quack) of nearby Kumjhar village and took her child there for treatment. As part of treatment, the ‘Dishari’ singed the baby’s torso with hot iron rods.
As the baby’s condition deteriorated after the incident, Rukmani admitted him in the district headquarters hospital (DHH) here on Thursday. According to doctors of the DHH, the child’s condition is very serious. He is suffering from sepsis and has infection in lungs, they added.
When asked, Rukmani admitted that she had resorted to the same treatment for her two other children also.