A cholera outbreak
has hit parts of Orissa, India in the wake of massive flooding, following South Asia’s worst monsoon season in living memory.Local sources have told ActionAid that nearly 250 people have
died in Koraput, Rayagada and Kalahadi, more than double the official death toll of 115.The provincial government has announced compensation of Rupees 10,000 (£120) to families of the
dead.Yet Bratindi Jenna, ActionAid’s manager in Orissa said that concerns have been expressed that official figures are being kept deliberately low in order to minimise the amount of
compensation. "If the government reveals the true figure, they would have to offer compensation to many more families."In an effort to help local communities contain the
epidemic, ActionAid has established mobile health camps in areas adjacent to those already affected. They have treated 3,500 from 30 villages. Of these, over 1,500 patients have been seen with
symptoms of diarrhoea and gastroenteritis. Oral rehydration salts and water purification tablets are being distributed, and cleansing teams of local volunteers sent to affected
areas.Don’t blame tribal people Those affected are mainly 'tribal' people; indigenous communities who suffer from widespread discrimination and official
neglect.ActionAid has condemned local government officials who say that tribal people themselves are responsible for the cholera outbreak, blaming the scale of the epidemic on their drinking
from unsafe water supplies."Diarrhoea and cholera outbreaks happen nearly every year in this region and on average about 50 people die annually. But lessons are not being
learned," said Bratindi Jenna."There needs to be a shift in provincial culture of blaming the tribal way of life for disease outbreaks. The local administration should accept
its responsibility for ensuring access to safe drinking water and public health facilities."Every year rainwater sluices from hilltops, contaminating water sources, yet the authorities
do little to contain what is a regular occurrence. Often tube wells are ineffective and public health is underfunded. Once cholera is in the open population, attempts at containing the disease are
often half-hearted.ActionAid’s Emergencies and Conflicts Advisor in Asia, Dr Unnikrishnan PV said that the absence of safe drinking water, deplorable sanitation facilities and the
contamination of drinking water sources will lead to more cases. "Government must ensure public health measures on an SOS basis."ActionAid is calling on the Orissa provincial
government to:
Invest in repairing defunct tube wells and in disinfecting water sources.
Scale up the provision of doctors, medicines and oral rehydration salts.
Undertake
public health information programmes.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
