TB Takes Toll In Mining Areas Of Odisha’s Jajpur

Jajpur: Tuberculosis is reportedly taking a toll in several mineral-bearing and industrially rich areas under Sukinda and Danagadi blocks of Odisha’s Jajpur district.

Ironically, the killer disease has allegedly not been curved even though National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP), previously known as Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP), is being executed across the country. It seems the objectives of the NTEP to reduce TB burden in India by 2025, may not be achieved in these areas.

Sources said, a 45-year old woman, identified as Pechin Pradhan, of Guhiashal (a neighbouring village of Nagada in Sukinda) died of TB while her husband Shnakara Pradhan was hit by the disease.

This year, seven persons in Sukinda mining areas have been victims of the disease.

On February 6, Dalimba Pingua (60), a woman of Podahara village in Chingudipal panchayat died of the killer disease while the disease took life of another woman Lalmoni Mankedia (40) at Rasola village of Mankedia panchayat on December 31, 2022.

The other victims of the disease include Bira Munda(48) of Kalarangi in Ranshola panchayat, Kuni Purty(59) of Kaliapani Bisranagar slum, Raju Mahakud(50) of Malharsahi of the same panchayat, Bahadur Behera(50) of Ostapal.

Sources added that in the last two to four years, 23 people have died of the disease in the mineral bearing areas of Sukinda. Besides, three members of a family of Saruabila village have died of the disease.

According to official data, the disease is spreading in several parts of Sukinda block. In 2019, Sukinda block recorded registration of 321 people with TB while it was 201 in case of Danagadi block.

In 2020, Sukinda reported that 194 people were affected with the disease while the number of registration of TB-hit people affected was 162 in Danagadi block.

It was learnt that the authorities have identified 75 people affected with TB in Sukinda block in the last four months.

A special TB identification drive is being launched by Ekata Niketan TB Centre at Kaliapani from June, 2022. During the drive, eight people have tested positive for TB out of 48 people screened.

However, it was alleged that many patients do not take medication under DOTs despite severity of the disease. Lack of awareness among people, who mostly reside in remote and fringe areas, is another factor for spread of the disease.

However, senior health observer of the tuberculosis control programme in Sukinda block Bijay Kumar Das said that mining areas have been identified as very sensitive zone where many case of Tb have been identified. “The health departmant is taking special measure to identify TB cases and make provision of medication to patients,” he added.