AMRAVATI: The Melghat region of Vidarbha is presently a picture of despair and what sounds a discordant note is the cries of kid dying due of malnutrition. A total 105 infants have died between April and June 2009 in Melghat.
Despite efforts by the government and non-government agencies and after spending a large amount of money, the infant deaths in this tribal region are unabated. Health department sources said that about 69 children are reported to be in stage IV of malnutrition in Chilkhaldhara and Dharni tehsils of Melghat region.
Sources said over Rs 80 crore have been spent on various schemes implemented in the region but results are far from satisfactory. In 2007-08, till July 15,2007, 102 children died of malnutrition, the figure till July 15 2008 was 95. MLA Rajkumar Patel told TOI said that there are many schemes for tribal welfare but these do not reach them.
Staff crunch in PHCs, sub district hospitals has hit the health care machinery. District administration officials however blame the lack of awareness and illiteracy among tribals as reasons for high child mortality rate. Health department sources said that tribals are unwilling to shed old beliefs and prefer that the women deliver at home only. Bandu Sane, president, Khoj, an NGO, told TOI that the administration is not sensitive towards the tribals problem.
“Though it is mandatory to appoint pediatrician and gynaecologist in all 11 PHCs in Melghat on a permanent basis but only three pediatricians, one gynaecologist have been appointed and that too for only amonth. As per a GR children in stage III and IV of malnutrition should be admitted to hospitals, but this is not the case,” he alleged.
ZP CEO Omprakash Bakoriya said, “Child marriage is rampant and as girls become mothers at a very young age. The infants are often weak making them vulnerable to various diseases. All infant deaths reported are not malnutrition deaths,” Bakoriya maintained. All 105 deaths of children in age group of 0-6 are not due to malnutrition but children fail pray to the various diseases like hypoglycemia, hypothermia, pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, premature babies etc, health department sources said.
TOI
Despite efforts by the government and non-government agencies and after spending a large amount of money, the infant deaths in this tribal region are unabated. Health department sources said that about 69 children are reported to be in stage IV of malnutrition in Chilkhaldhara and Dharni tehsils of Melghat region.
Sources said over Rs 80 crore have been spent on various schemes implemented in the region but results are far from satisfactory. In 2007-08, till July 15,2007, 102 children died of malnutrition, the figure till July 15 2008 was 95. MLA Rajkumar Patel told TOI said that there are many schemes for tribal welfare but these do not reach them.
Staff crunch in PHCs, sub district hospitals has hit the health care machinery. District administration officials however blame the lack of awareness and illiteracy among tribals as reasons for high child mortality rate. Health department sources said that tribals are unwilling to shed old beliefs and prefer that the women deliver at home only. Bandu Sane, president, Khoj, an NGO, told TOI that the administration is not sensitive towards the tribals problem.
“Though it is mandatory to appoint pediatrician and gynaecologist in all 11 PHCs in Melghat on a permanent basis but only three pediatricians, one gynaecologist have been appointed and that too for only amonth. As per a GR children in stage III and IV of malnutrition should be admitted to hospitals, but this is not the case,” he alleged.
ZP CEO Omprakash Bakoriya said, “Child marriage is rampant and as girls become mothers at a very young age. The infants are often weak making them vulnerable to various diseases. All infant deaths reported are not malnutrition deaths,” Bakoriya maintained. All 105 deaths of children in age group of 0-6 are not due to malnutrition but children fail pray to the various diseases like hypoglycemia, hypothermia, pneumonia, neonatal sepsis, premature babies etc, health department sources said.
TOI
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