Away from virus, PVTGs out of inoculation drive up to now

By Express News Service
BARIPADA:  While the protection of the Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG) is rising as a critical concern with a number of folks from these communities testing constructive for Covid-19, consciousness and immunisation for the susceptible tribes are but to start in Mayurbhanj. The district is residence to  PVTGs like Khadia, Mankadia and Lodha communities that are largely present in Karanjia, Udala and Baripada sub-divisions.

 If sources are to be believed, these tribal teams are nonetheless blind to Covid-19 and the harm inflicted by the virus because the administration has reportedly not taken steps to succeed in out to them. Some of the distant communities are reportedly solely conscious of the time period “Corona” from posters pasted on the partitions of their home by ASHA and anganwadi employees. In the absence of consciousness, PVTGs listed here are relying on quacks and conventional treatments in the event that they develop flu-like signs.

 In Uthanisahi village beneath Kaptipada block, there are 55 Mankadia tribe households. For most of them, “Covid-19” is a time period remarkable.  They don’t use masks or observe hand hygiene as well being employees have reportedly not given them due recommendation on the pandemic. Bugudi Mankadia, 38, stated, “ASHA employees haven’t requested us to do issues like cowl our face with masks and wash arms often.

We solely hear the phrase “Corona” at instances, however have no idea what it means.” Uthanisahi village is 17 km from Kaptipada hospital.  Despite their inaccessibility, the Health division is but to provoke primary consciousness drives like masks distribution, thermal screening and vaccination to guard the susceptible tribal inhabitants. Apart from Mankadias, there are over 1,132 households of Lodha tribe in Morada, Suliapada and Betnoti blocks in Baripada sub-division, and 200 households in Kaptipada. None of them has been mainstreamed into the immunisation drive but. 

Project supervisor of Hill Khadia Mankadia Development Agency, Cornelia Lakra stated at the very least 674 households of the 2 PVTGs are unfold throughout 20 villages in Karanjia. “We will start awareness campaign in the area from Monday. None from the Khadia tribe in this region has tested positive till now,” she stated. Karanjia Sub-collector Dr Rajanikanta Biswal stated consciousness drive is being carried out for the tribes however immunisation hasn’t began. Dr. Sibananda Mohanty, Sub-Divisional Medical Officer of Udala stated “I have ordered officers to make a list of villages, name and age group of PVTGs. The list will send to higher authorities for needful action,” he knowledgeable. 

Contacted, Collector Vineet Bhardwaj asserted in regards to the conduct of consciousness drives in PVTG villages, and stated the tribes will get the jab as per the federal government tips. Recently, 16 individuals from the Khadia neighborhood in Lalpani village beneath Baripada’s Shamakhunta block examined constructive for Covid-19. A fast response workforce rushed to the village to provide them due medical remedy. Those contaminated are recovering beneath residence isolation now.