Concerned over reports of malarial deaths in Jharkhand's Sahibganj district, the Janata Dal (U), an alliance partner in the BJP-led NDA , today urged the health department to step up its anti-malarial drive.
The health department should at the earliest direct its medical teams to find out reports of deaths in Sahibganj due to malaria and the disease has afflicted several people in the district, JD(U) spokesman Pramod Mishra said here.Stating that malaria is endemic in the tribal-populated Santhal Pargana districts, Mishra suggested there should be strict monitoring whether doctors posted in all the six Santhal districts were discharging their duties sincerely.
We have found most of the time patients don't find doctors posted at the blocks. Therefore, the health department should ensure every doctor discharged duties at their respective places, Mishra added.
Mishra sought to know why such a large number of people were suffering from malaria despite round-the-year malaria-eradication campaign as claimed by the health department.
Malaria patients were also increasing in the neighbouring Pakur district, Mishra claimed.
The Pakur district malaria officer, Dr Surya Narayan Mahto said a total of 1016 patients had been treated for malaria so far and that the department was active in its malaria-eradication programme.
(Source:PTI News)
