*Shortage of drip sets, medicines in SDH: BMO
Excelsior Correspondent
POONCH, May 23: With 85 more cases reported to the Sub District Hospital Mendhar and some other Primary Health Centres of the Sub Division during last 24 hours, the number of diarrhoea cases have reached up to 503 in Mendhar area of district Poonch while there is shortage of drip sets, glucose bottles and medicines in the hospitals there.
The epidemic in entire Mendhar Sub- Division has reached alarming situation, while no medical teams have been rushed from Jammu or other arras so far to control the situation. During last night 34 fresh cases were reported to the SDH Mendhar and some other PHCs while today about fifty one cases have been reported in SDH Mendhar besides, some other PHCs of Sub Division including Harni, Dhar Galoon, Mankote and Chhatral.
SDM Mendhar Rahul Yadav taking serious note of the matter paid visit to the SDH Mendhar along with SDPO Riaz Tantray and inquired about the health of the patients and also interacted with the BMO Dr Zulfkar and other Medical staff on duty. The staff told the SDM that there was shortage of medicines and drip sets besides fluid as more and more cases were reaching the hospital from various areas. Majority of the cases were from Mendhar town, Darana and some adjoining hamlets of Mendhar. The SDM then talked to the deputy Commissio-ner and higher authorities in Health and Medical Education Department regarding shortage of medicines other items in the hospital stock.
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Mr Yadav also talked to the PHE staff at the Sub Divisional Office and was shocked to note that the only water testing laboratory there was lying defunct, despite the fact that two employees including a female have been placed there. He said that water samples of different areas will be taken and got tested through Pollution Control Board. The BMO shared that since last evening about eighty to eighty five cases have been reported from various areas..
Director Health Service Jammu, Dr Gurjeet Singh when contacted said that after he came to know about the shortage of medicines and drip sets in Mendhar area, he rushed a truck loaded with various medicines and other requirements this afternoon. Director said that he also spoke to CMO Poonch Dr Bhatti who informed about the latest status. He said that as told by CMO, the situation was under control and there was no need to rush medical teams from Jammu. He said that CMO Poonch and BMO are closely supervising the situation and if needed, he will rush medical teams from Jammu. Regarding quality of water being consumed by local people, the Director Health said that there was need to pick up water samples from various areas where the problem is acute and sent for testing in the good labs.
Executive Engineer, PHE Poonch, Qayoom Choudhary claimed that there are four water testing Labs in district Poonch. He claimed that Sub Divisional Lab at Mendhar is functional and water samples have been lifted by the local PHE staff.
Mr Qayoom further claimed that PHE officials are issued Chlorine regularly to use it in water storage tanks and it is routine matter. In case of Mendhar, the same were issued and it is the duty of concerned Sub Divisional officials to monitor the things. He claimed that there may be some other reasons behind this spread of epidemic in that area. On leakage of PHE pipes at various places in Mendhar town and possibility of mixing of contaminated drain water with drinking water, the Executive Engineer said that he would get all pipes repaired shortly. He said there was need to create awareness among the people also as many are also using water from local sources like Bowlis etc.
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