Anantnag: In January 2014, when the cabinet chaired by Omar Abdullah
sanctioned Rs 7.50 crore for the treatment of hepatitis-C infected
population of Kokernag, the patients had heaved a sigh of relief.
But nearly two-and-a-half years have passed and most of the infected people continue to wait for medical help. The delay in the treatment of the people living with the deadly speaks of the seriousness of the successive regimes to control the silent killer.
Around twelve hundred people of twin villages Magam and Sonbrari had tested positive for the disease in 2013 during a mass screening conducted by the health authorities.
Directorate of Health Services and SKIMS deputed seperate teams to the area to control the disease. Noted gastroenterologist, Mohammad Sultan Khuru also had conducted a thorough study on the outbreak of the deadly disease.
In his report to the government, Khuru described the outbreak of the disease as a “human tragedy in making” suggesting that 20 crore rupees were needed to control the further spread of the infection. The then-chief minister Omar Abdullah sanctioned Rs 7.50 crore for the treatment of the infected populace.
In February last year, health authorities claimed to have started free treatment for the infected population. However, around one and a half year has passed and most of the affected people are yet to get any free medicine.
“Out of a huge infected populace the health authorities in February last year prepared a list of around 750 people and claimed that free treatment would provided to them. But one and a half year has passed only 200 people have been provided free drugs while as the rest are helplessly waiting to get treated,” a village Sarpnch, Ghulam Mohammad Mir told Kashmir Reader.
Mir said that though some people with sound financial condition managed to get themselves treated in private capacity but the poor ones continue to wait for the authorities fulfil their promise of free treatment.
“Many poor famimies have been approaching me for help but i am also helpless to help them. Had authorities been serious to control the infection and stop it’s further spread they would have provided medicine to all those figuring in the list without any delay,” Sarpanch said.
Sarpanch of Sobabrari, another nearby hepatitis hit village, Mohammad Ashraf said that only over two dozen people from his village having political connections were identified for free treatment. “Rest of the infected people of the village are helplessly waiting for the free medicine announced by the government a couple of years ago. But the authorities seem to be little serious about this grave issue,” Ashraf told Kashmir Reader.
He said that some months ago MLA Kokernag had got a team from SKIMS deputed to the village which collected more than 250 samples for examination but the team disappeared with samples only. “People whose samples were taken are still waiting for the results,” Sarpanch said.
MLA Kokernag, Abdul Rahim Rather admitted that around 900 people are yet to be covered under free treatment but adding that in next ten days treatment will be started.
“We had a total of 1200 positive cases. And out of those around 300 are undergoing treatment. 250 were provided free drugs by the health department while as rest 25 were treated by Jammu and Kashmir bank. Rest were treated unerring National health mission (NRHM) scheme,” MLA told Kashmir Reader.
He said that he has strongly raised the issue in assembly and health minister gave the assurance that treatment of the remaining infected populace will be started very soon. “I admit the delay in the treatment of the affected people is not good. It is like a time bomb and has to be controlled immediately. I can tell you with confidence that treatment of all the infected people will be started in a week’s time,” MLA said.
He further admitted that the SKIMS team after sample collection did not intentionally make the reports public. “Out of around 400 samples collected by SKIMS team 60 had tested positive. So sharing reports with the people there would again have created panic,” Rather told Kashmir Reader.
But nearly two-and-a-half years have passed and most of the infected people continue to wait for medical help. The delay in the treatment of the people living with the deadly speaks of the seriousness of the successive regimes to control the silent killer.
Around twelve hundred people of twin villages Magam and Sonbrari had tested positive for the disease in 2013 during a mass screening conducted by the health authorities.
Directorate of Health Services and SKIMS deputed seperate teams to the area to control the disease. Noted gastroenterologist, Mohammad Sultan Khuru also had conducted a thorough study on the outbreak of the deadly disease.
In his report to the government, Khuru described the outbreak of the disease as a “human tragedy in making” suggesting that 20 crore rupees were needed to control the further spread of the infection. The then-chief minister Omar Abdullah sanctioned Rs 7.50 crore for the treatment of the infected populace.
In February last year, health authorities claimed to have started free treatment for the infected population. However, around one and a half year has passed and most of the affected people are yet to get any free medicine.
“Out of a huge infected populace the health authorities in February last year prepared a list of around 750 people and claimed that free treatment would provided to them. But one and a half year has passed only 200 people have been provided free drugs while as the rest are helplessly waiting to get treated,” a village Sarpnch, Ghulam Mohammad Mir told Kashmir Reader.
Mir said that though some people with sound financial condition managed to get themselves treated in private capacity but the poor ones continue to wait for the authorities fulfil their promise of free treatment.
“Many poor famimies have been approaching me for help but i am also helpless to help them. Had authorities been serious to control the infection and stop it’s further spread they would have provided medicine to all those figuring in the list without any delay,” Sarpanch said.
Sarpanch of Sobabrari, another nearby hepatitis hit village, Mohammad Ashraf said that only over two dozen people from his village having political connections were identified for free treatment. “Rest of the infected people of the village are helplessly waiting for the free medicine announced by the government a couple of years ago. But the authorities seem to be little serious about this grave issue,” Ashraf told Kashmir Reader.
He said that some months ago MLA Kokernag had got a team from SKIMS deputed to the village which collected more than 250 samples for examination but the team disappeared with samples only. “People whose samples were taken are still waiting for the results,” Sarpanch said.
MLA Kokernag, Abdul Rahim Rather admitted that around 900 people are yet to be covered under free treatment but adding that in next ten days treatment will be started.
“We had a total of 1200 positive cases. And out of those around 300 are undergoing treatment. 250 were provided free drugs by the health department while as rest 25 were treated by Jammu and Kashmir bank. Rest were treated unerring National health mission (NRHM) scheme,” MLA told Kashmir Reader.
He said that he has strongly raised the issue in assembly and health minister gave the assurance that treatment of the remaining infected populace will be started very soon. “I admit the delay in the treatment of the affected people is not good. It is like a time bomb and has to be controlled immediately. I can tell you with confidence that treatment of all the infected people will be started in a week’s time,” MLA said.
He further admitted that the SKIMS team after sample collection did not intentionally make the reports public. “Out of around 400 samples collected by SKIMS team 60 had tested positive. So sharing reports with the people there would again have created panic,” Rather told Kashmir Reader.
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