No doctor at PHC since last two years
Morung Express News
Tuensang | April 8
An undiagnosed disease has killed three children in a matter of a week at Chessore, a remote village under Tuensang district, prompting villagers to panic this may be the start of an outbreak as more children were reported to be affected with similar symptoms.
The illness, with symptoms of vomiting, fever and diarrhea struck the children coinciding with the sudden change of weather, inhabitants of Chessore village which has around 580 families said. The three children who succumbed to the undiagnosed disease include a four-year old studying at a mission school-St Christopher School. The other two including a girl were below two-year old.
Chessore town, which adjoins the village, has a Primary Health Centre (PHC) with two staff nurses, a vaccinator besides others. However, without a qualified doctor and proper infrastructure, it would be impossible to detect the disease that is affecting the children.
Toki Allen, pastor of Chessore Baptist Church said the deceased children barely survived a day with the illness before they succumbed. “The children started vomiting with bouts of fever and they were dead the next day,” Pastor Allen informed.
Father Francis of St Christopher School, Chessore said there are still a couple of children suffering with similar symptoms. According to Father Francis, children and adults alike had experienced similar symptoms last year during June and July, the onset of monsoon. Though there had been a number of casualties, the exact number of death last year could not be ascertained.
The outbreak of the disease last year (2016) at Chessore also coincided with the near epidemic from an unknown disease at Naga inhabited villages in Myanmar which killed more than 30 children. During that time, a medical team had attended to at least 150 affected villagers.
While the nature of the disease can only be confirmed by a medical professional, Father Francis observed that this year’s incidences may not be an outbreak but an outcome of general deficiency or because the immune systems of the children were weak because they did not receive any immunization.
The lack of awareness or a casual approach to illness stalking people in the rural is one considered reason why there are more casualties. However, this is further compounded by the absence of doctors and the lack of proper medical facility to treat the patients.
Pastor Allen revealed that the PHC at Chessore town has been running without a doctor for the last two years. “The doctor who was posted here has gone on study leave and there has been no temporary replacement in his place,” the pastor informed.
Road communication is another predicament. The nearest subdivision from where Chessore inhabitants get their provisions is Aghunato under Zunheboto district. Though only a distance of around 24 kilometers, the road becomes unmotorable during monsoon, Pastor Allen lamented.
According to the 2011 census, Chessore village had 680 number children aged between 0-6 which made up 23.60% of total population of village.
