Kendrapada, Dec 4 (Odisha.in) The much-hyped polio immunization programme seems to have yielded mix results in the costal district of Kendrapada as seven children were found recently suffering from polio even after their parents alleged they were taking the drops regularly.
Dipak Kumar Jena (9) of village Adhanga under Derabishi block, Sujata Sutar(9) of village Rajagard under Marsaghai block, Mita Sahani (9) of village Kacheripada under Kendrapada block , Rebani Khan (7) of village Palasingha under Pattamundei block , Arun Mallick(8) of village Ghagara , Sk. Erfani (9) of village of Palasingha under Pattamundei block and Salama Begum ((9) are to name a few who have been afflicted recently with the disease.
Dipak, Sujata, Mita, Rebani, Arun , Salama and Erfani have one in common as they are unable to stand on their own though their parents have been running from pillar to post for help.
But no body extended their hands to help till on the World Disability Day on Monday, the district administration provided each of them wheel chairs.
“All the seven polio affected children were provided wheelchairs on Monday by the district administration”, said Binapani Tripathy the district social welfare officer of Kendrapada.
“The presence of seven polio affected children in the meeting at Kendrapada proved that the authority is yet to eradicate polio from this district”, said Anjan Kumar Bala the secretary of Nature’s Club an NGO.
The hapless parents of all the five polio-affected children said, though their children had been administered polio doses regularly, the vaccines were, perhaps, ineffective because they were not kept under controlled temperature.
Polio affected Arun was not reading in the village school as many guardians raised objection before the school authority for their admission in the school. “Many villagers never come to our house after my son was affected with polio, said Amulaya Mallick of village Ghagara.
Nemaji Khan the father of the polio affected Rebani (4) is now a worried person. “I and my wife approached the doctors of the district government hospital at Kendrapada umpteen times and urged them to provide proper treatment to my son. But they did not pay any heed to it”, alleged Nemaji.
“The fate of my son is now at stake after he was affected with polio. Many villagers believe polio is a water-borne disease for which they never take water from our house”, added Nemaji.
Manidipa Chakrabarti (9) , daughter of Narayan Chakrabarti of Chandol village 12 km from Kendrapada , also has been affected by polio. Her left leg turned thin within one year though she was administrated polio doses regularly.
Last year, two girls from Bilabalarampur under Kendrapada block were also affected with polio though they were given polio doses by the health officials.
When contacted Dr Usharani Tripathy the chief district medical officer (CDMO) of Kendrapada said ” We will depute a medical team soon to examine all the seven cases of suspected polio to confirm whether they are affected with polio or not.
Odisha.in