KHONSA, Jul 31: Due to outbreak of diarrhoea in the Lazu circle of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tirap district, a total of 9 children, in the age group of 3-10 years, have lost their lives within a short span of time.
To ascertain the exact reason, the stool and water samples have been sent for further analysis, according to the district medical officer (DMO) in-charge Dr. Obang Taggu and Dr. AK Sen Gupta, medical officer in-charge of the PHC Lazu, being run by The Karuna Trust.
“The situation is being constantly monitored by local MLA W. Sawin, Tirap Deputy Commissioner T. Mize & DMO N. Lowang. A medical team is being arranged to station at Lazu for constant examination and treatment. Necessary ambulance has already been arranged to lift the serious patients from Longkong and nearby villages to the District Hospital Hospital Khonsa,” said an official statement.
The Tirap Deputy Commissioner has further instructed the medical team to stay at the village community hall to monitor the situation closely and be available 24×7 for any emergency requirements, the statement said.
“Different parties came together for symptoms assessment and basic medicines distribution such as Sanjeevani Foundation, regional PHC and district medical team and 6 Assam Rifles medical team under the supervision of the district administration,” the statement added.
Water samples have been collected and sent for lab test by PHED Khonsa Division from the affected area while the stool sample has been sent for lab test by the district medical team, the statement further stated.
Students’ union and panchayat leaders have been engaged to create awareness and convince the villagers to cooperate with the medical team and render their services as earlier the medical team had a hard time convincing the villagers to come for test and symptom assessments as they believed it to be associated with an evil spirit, the statement further said.
According to the medical officer, PHC Lazu, the situation is “improving” as there has been no further death report, it added.
