Date:25/09/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/09/25/stories/2008092556490400.htm

Andhra Pradesh

Malaria incidence high in agency area

Santosh Patnaik

Tribals hamlets in Visakhapatnam district in grip of diseases

— Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

Medical emergency: One of the families affected by malaria at Pedabidda, an interior tribal hamlet of Anantagiri mandal in Visakhapatnam agency area..

PEDABIDDA (VISAKHAPATNAM DT.): Vantala Yerukulamma, 55, does not know what to do. She has no money to go to Langubarthi dispensary to get treatment for her granddaughter, Pangi Gangotri, 6, and son Gangaraju, a ninth standard student.

“My granddaughter is down with cold fever, body pain and weakness for the past two weeks. Now my son is also suffering from fever for the past three days,” Yerukulamma, who ekes out a living as an agriculture worker, says. Going by an auto on sharing basis costs Rs.10. It takes one and a half hour to reach five km for availing of treatment at the dispensary.

Malaria symptoms

This tiny tribal hamlet located in Anantagiri mandal, about 100 km from Visakhapatnam, is reeling under the impact of malarial fever. Tribals belonging to Konda Dora, Valmiki and Konda Kamsali communities depend on hill streams to quench their thirst. Of 100 households, 20 are suffering from malaria.

Demudamma, 5, is having symptoms of malaria for the past four days. She was referred to the dispensary where after giving some tablets, she was asked to go.

Bojjanna, who owns five acres of land, is also shivering. He went to Damuku, eight km from here by an autorickshaw and bought some tablets from a pharmacist three days ago. “I am in the habit of self-medication whenever I get fever. I don’t know why the fever comes on and off,” he points out innocently.

Pentamma, local MPTC, admits that the incidence of malaria is very high this season. She says that due to drug resistance and self-medication, the tribals are not able to get rid of the fever completely.

“It is unfortunate that the powers-that-be only resort to cosmetic treatment instead of initiating a permanent solution for malaria across the agency belt by ensuring assured potable water supply and drug discipline,” opines K. Vivek Vinayak, general secretary, Girijana Aikya Vedika.