Delay in issuing tenders hits drug supply, insecticide-soaked bed nets

NAGPUR: Lack of planning by the district administration is endangering the lives of thousands of patients affected by Falciparum malaria in Gadchiroli. Like every year, the cases are expected to cross 10-11,000 mark. Dr Yogesh Kalkonde, a public health researcher and a neurologist associated with SEARCH for the past three-and-the-half years, told TOI that he has checked 10 children below five years suffering from cerebral malaria (brain fever) in the last few days.
Dr Kalkonde said, "Our vehicle regularly visits the 48 villages covered under our project and picks up patients. We keep a watch on every child and pregnant woman. It is sad the government machinery cites difficult hilly and densely forested terrain for not reaching out to the tribals. The truth is government hospitals do not have medicines. More disheartening fact is that the health department is aware of the situation arising every year and yet does not plan for medicine supply and precautionary measures in advance."
Dr Kalkonde added two peak seasons of malaria are July to August and November to December. "After Mumbai, Gadchiroli has maximum malaria cases (about 12% of total cases in state). Of them, falciparum accounts for 80% cases reported in 1,600 villages of Gadchiroli district. "I am sure the actual figures are much more as there is a lot of scope for under reporting," he said.
Tushar Khorgade, deputy director of SEARCH and a social worker, said that as many as 105 patients from Darahi, Bhimpur and Kupaner villages in Dhanora tehsil are taking intense treatment in the organization's hospital. Kondawahi village alone has 72 positive patients. "Generally, heavy and continuous rains prevent water from stagnating and resultant mosquito breeding. But this year the rains were scanty and intermittent. This caused water stagnation in villages as well as forest areas and hence more incidence of the disease. Moreover, the government didn't distribute insecticide soaked mosquito bed nets. As the insecticide is effective for only six months fresh supplies are needed every year."
Dr Digant Amte from Hemalkasa in Bhamragarh area also admitted that he has been seeing at least 40-50 patients daily but there is no supply of the injectables. "We draw patients from all over the district but malaria patients come from a radius of 50km. It is not that government machinery is not at work. Besides medicines and testing kits, lack of doctors is also a major factor affecting the effectiveness of the system," he said.
Dr Sanjay Jaiswal, deputy director of health services Nagpur circle (covering six districts), admitted this year there was shortage of medicines due to issues like delay in tendering process etc. He promised to make medicines available in a week by purchasing them locally and through funds available from District Planning and Development Committee.
Gadchiroli District health officer Dr Kamlesh Bhandari and district malaria officer Dr Ravindra Dhole told TOI that an order worth Rs35 lakh has already been placed and the medicines will be available in a few days. However, the government will be able to supply the medicines only after 15-20 days. "We go door-to-door for diagnosis. But tribals leave home very early and return late. Hence, this year health workers are visiting houses early mornings an dl ate evenings. In Dhanora tehsil alone we treated 65 admitted patients," Dr Jaiswal said.
Meanwhile, keeping party politics aside BJP MLA from Gadchiroli Dr Devrao Holi and former Congress MLA Dr Namdeo Usendi demanded a policy change in medicine procurement specific to the district. They also expect the CM to take the issue seriously, devise a separate health delivery system for the district and take steps for filling up all vacant posts.