Moreh commandos coping Dengue outbreak with traditional medicine
Source: Chronicle News Service
Imphal, August 09 2023:
As the state is witnessing an outbreak of Dengue in different parts of the state including Moreh, Manipur Police commando personnel posted in the border town are finding themselves in a desperate situation due to lack of government support, financial shortage and rising Dengue cases among the handful of personnel, one of whom have died due to the disease on Monday.
Sources said that Moreh, which has been under siege by Kuki militants following the violence broke out on May 3, is witnessing an outbreak of Dengue cases lately.
A rifleman of 5th IRB died of the vector borne disease on Monday.
There are also several other personnel who are suffering from the disease.
Some personnel of the special commando unit un derwent test at PHC Moreh recently during which they were found positive of Dengue.
The government tried to evacuate the ailing personnel using helicopter but it could not land due to inclement weather.
While some of the personnel managed to get tested, many were unable to afford the cost of the test, which is Rs 1200 per test.
Moreover, the district administration of Tengnoupal has left the personnel to their own situation as they failed to deliver required medicines for the ailing personnel.
Unable to afford medicines from Pharmacy shops, which are also not cooperating with the CDO personnel even if they manage to contribute some money, the ailing personnel have no other means but to rely on traditional medicines made from herbs and plants.
Tea made of medicinal plants are the only line of treatment for the ailing personnel and healthy personnel are also drinking it with the hope of protecting themselves from the disease.
At the same time, the only source of drinking water for the CDO personnel is from a well in the campus of their camp, which has also become a breeding ground for mosquitoes.
Whenever there is rainfall, they collect rainwater by making a makeshift rain gutter, store it in plastic water tanks and use it for cooking purpose.
Even though there are private commercial tanker service in the border town, the personnel are in no position to afford.
On the other hand, PHC Moreh's medical officer in-charge Dr Minlun Lunghdim said that the centre had tested 47 samples from July 16 to August 7, out of which 26 samples were found positive of Dengue.
There is no testing kit at the centre and as a result, they are unable to conduct any further test.
The doctor said that at least three CDO personnel have been confirmed for Dengue of which one died on Monday.
Besides, there are other personnel showing same symptoms with high grade fever and there are high possibilities that they are Dengue cases, the doctor added.