Ignorance, ailing health care make challenge stiff
PATNA: Babban Singh (62) is confined in a room at his home for the last 20 days after he tested positive for Covid-19. Singh, a farmer under Hhardiya panchayat of Samastipur district, rushed to Darbhanga for tests at a private lab as soon as he developed symptoms, on the advice of his son who lives in Mumbai.
“I remained in fever for 6-7 days. I also got in touch with a doctor in Patna and took the prescribed medicines. Now I will again go to Darbhanga, 50 kms from Hardiya, for tests,” he said.
But there are not many like Babban Singh. Most ignore apparent symptoms and act foolishly brave. “People cough and sneeze, but they carry on, taking it just as seasonal variation. There is no testing in panchayat. A couple of weeks ago, some officials had come for testing after some villagers fell ill and detected positive cases in Bangrahtta, Hardiya. Sumaha and adjoining places. The infection seems to be spreading, but we don’t know to what extent,” said Singh.
The reports coming in from various districts reflect a similar scenario.
Dr Anil Kumar, assistant professor, department of history, Rajdhani College, University of Delhi, drew the attention of Madhubani district magistrate towards health facility in his native village Kanhauli (Khajauli). “There is just one health centre for more than 8,000 people but it is not functioning even in the midst of pandemic. Villagers are suffering and dying in the absence of health facility. One doctor on alternate day basis or at least weekly basis will immensely help,” he wrote after one person died with Covid symptoms but no test report. The DM assured to look into the request.
Public health and policy expert Dr Vikas R Keshri, currently a senior research fellow at the George Institute for Global Health in New Delhi, said that the pandemic challenge for a state like Bihar was much bigger due to a number of factors, viz. high population density, limited rural healthcare infrastructure, false sense of immunity and tendency to treat Covid-19 as a largely high society and urban phenomenon, unrestricted movement of migrant natives and ignorance.
“After the first wave, people got complacent and so did the authorities. When the second wave struck, all were caught offguard. I fear that the government’s continued claims of drop in positivity rate may prove counter-productive, as it can make people complacent again while the real magnitude of the infection is still not known and will be difficult to assess due to harsh ground realities. Rural societies are very close knit and even in pandemic times, they continue to perform social customs, attend social functions and puja etc.,” he said.
Reports from rural areas point to large gatherings for marriage, thread ceremony, death rituals and other social occasions despite government’s clear directions and appeals to refrain from such gatherings. Masadha village in Bhojpur has witnessed a number of deaths in the last one month to raise concerns for the villagers. “So far, only four deaths have been confirmed due to Covid-19, but the actual number may be much higher,” said former deputy mukhiya Satyendra Singh.
Under the National Health Mission (NHM), Primary Health Centre (PHC) is established to cover a population of 30,000 in rural areas and 20,000 in hilly, tribal and desert areas. Then there are other smaller health centres, but how many of them are actually able to meet the challenge is a big question. The Patna HC has also sought details of the situation in the rural areas, where the challenge is bigger due to greater vulnerability and limited quality healthcare. The government also claims to be going ahead with its policy of “test, track and treat’.