Source: The Sangai Express
Moreh, August 03 2009:
An extensive outbreak of viral fever has gripped the border town of Moreh with a large number of people down with the disease.
On the average, around 20-25 people are being brought to Moreh Hospital with viral fever symptoms everyday.
In addition, a number of patients suffering from unidentified diseases have been referred to Imphal hospitals.
Coupled with the infection, the patients as well as their families have been facing untold miseries as the 50 bedded Moreh Hospital is under-staffed.
Not only the people on the Indian side of the border but villagers from the vicinity of the international boundary are also coming to Moreh Hospital for medical diagnosis and treatment.
The patients are facing severe hardships as there is no specialist doctor for any department while some doctors who have been posted at the hospital have not reported for duty.
At present, Dr Amusana assisted by some staff nurses, is the only doctor attending to patients at Moreh Hospital.
On the other hand, with economic blockades continuing on both NH-39 and NH-53, many necessary drugs are not available in the hospital nor in pharmacies.
Most of the denizens of Moreh, being daily wage earners, the woes have been multiplied manifold by the outbreak of viral fever and the continuing economic blockade.
Notably, Meetei Council Moreh and AMSU Chandel District Committee have appealed to the Health Director through several memoranda to look into the requirements and shortages of Moreh Hospital.
However, nothing has been put into action till date.
In tandem with the outbreak of viral fever, the number of people suffering from malaria has also been rising.
Interacting with this correspondent at Moreh Hospital, some patients said that they were not given any medicine as there was no medicine in stock.
The lone doctor was unable to attend to all the patients properly and this sometimes caused bickering among patients, they conveyed.
They also appealed to the Government to send required doctors, staff and medicines at the earliest.
Meanwhile, taking serious note of the extensive infection by malaria at Kwatha Khunou village, located about 18 kms from Moreh police station, Meitei Council Moreh and AMSU Chandel District Committee organised jointly a free medical camp there yesterday.
In association with malaria department of Moreh Hospital, MCM and AMSU Chandel District Committee distributed medicines and provided 10 bags of rice besides fogging the village.
Incidentally, there is no health centre nor primary school nor safe drinking water in Kwatha Khunou.
At the time of outbreak of diseases, the villagers face untold miseries as there is no proper connecting the village.
Highlighting their woes, the villagers appealed to the Government to construct proper a road to the village and also to provide medicines for seasonal diseases.
The village is inhabited by 32 families of 180 people .