Dasamantpur: A 90-year-old man at Badao Bagri in the Dasmantpur block of Koraput district has been suffering from anthrax for the past several months.
Locals alleged that even though the man has been in severe pain the administration has not done anything to treat him.
The patient, Kataru Jani, is poor and cannot afford medical treatment.
Sources said Jani had gone to collect firewood to a nearby riverbank. Meanwhile, he felt a tingling sensation on his left palm and his fingers, and his palms started swelling.
He was taken to the Dasmantpur community health centre where he received preliminary treatment. According to Jani as there was no significant improvement in his condition he returned home.
It may be mentioned here that while on a visit to Badao Bagri chief district medical officer (CDMO) Dadhi Bamono Tripathi met Jani. He even instructed DSMO Patnayak and additional district medical officer (ADMO) Arun Padhi to provide free medicines to him, and also advised Jani to go to the district headquarters hospital (DHH) for further treatment.
Jani is dependent on his wife for all his expenses. Though he is a below poverty line (BPL) cardholder, but he has not been covered by any social security scheme of the government, he said.
Jani’s economic condition is such that he cannot “afford two square meals a day.” “How I would commute to the DHH, you say?” he lamented.
PNN