After the gloomy scenes that have dominated our psyche for the past many days, this update brings in something to smile about. The functioning of the Primary Health Centre at Bhutahi Bandh in a smooth way brings in a sense of achievement, a sense of making a dent in this vast expanse of destruction and death. Hundreds of people are patiently queuing up every day to be examined by one of the four doctors. Initially it was estimated that the Centre would cater to the needs of 5000-7000 people but at present it is providing services to more than 40,000 people. The Centre is filling up the wide gap left by the absence of any kind of medical facilities in the vicinity. Dr. Jha who was part of the first team and is back on the field with the third team reiterates the fact that, “...earlier the State was missing but now the State is callously missing.... particularly medicinal intervention, which has become the nucleus of all other intervention.” After losing their livelihood, their home, and their hearth what was left with them was their personal health which is now at stake and this has prioritised the need for medical intervention. Similar kinds of ailments are surfacing, like ear infection which can be traced to the use of contaminated water. The volunteers are also doing a commendable job and are being assisted by the TISS volunteers in running the show smoothly. Looking at the pattern of health complaints that the medicos are confronting in the area, demand for a fresh list of medicines have been communicated. These include:
- Iron Folic Acid Tablets
- Cough Syrup
- 2nd and 3rd generation antibiotics
- Anti-fungal Cream
- Steroid + Antibiotic Cream
- Eye and Ear Drops like Tearplus, Lubrigel, Mesol etc.
- Calcium Tablets
- Multi Vitamin Syrup
- Albendazole (syrup and tablets)
- Apart from medicines, one other item that is the need of the hour is 20-litre plastic buckets, for purifying water.
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