Update from Bihar
Email from Medha Patkar (latest update):
Update from the Relief initiatives in the Kosi calamity-affected districts of Bihar.
As we had communicated in our earlier update, efforts to reach out with relief and actions through the affected areas is on, and so is the process of confronting the district and state administration on the inadequacies at the various camps. It is also a matter of concern that there have been heavy rains in the past few days in Bihar and the State Govt. must step up its relief measures further.
Through constant pursuit, we have been able to mount pressure on the district administration to reach out with relief to the thousands of families that were identified at the Ramnagar camp in Purnia district. Amulya and others spoke with the district administration and were also successful in being able to stop the transfer of Dr. Ansari, who was the only medical personnel there taking care of the thousands of patients .We are in fact demanding for more doctors to be deputed.
At Aambagicha, where the affected people from Madhepura are staying, we organized a health camp for more than 200 pregnant women, in collaboration with the Indian Medical Association and the district health administration. At Biharganj as well where the relief work is on, about 2000 blankets that were received from supporters from Delhi and Punjab were distributed amongst the camp inmates. The relief that was received from people of the Narmada valley included utensils and bedding materials were as well distributed. One more volunteer, Hari, an advocate from Delhi has reached Purnia yesterday and has joined the volunteer initiatives with Rajkumar and others.
In Areria, volunteers of the Jan Jagaran Abhiyan (JJA), Araria, along with Kamayani and Maya, Bangalore-based organization have been working on various initiatives, in particular, monitoring the situation at the camps and the health condition of the inmates. Relief materials like dry food rations, old clothes, plates, plastic (for shelters) and other miscellaneous items, have been distributed by the team. They have had constant interactions with the Civil Surgeon, Araria and District.
The Civil Surgeon and the District Magistrate were informed of the conditions in the various camps, including those at JBC Nahar, Chunni; Jogbani Thana Mega Camp (Forbesganj); SSB Mega camp, Batnaha (Forbesganj), Kathara Mega Camp Chattapura, (Bhargama). Bageli, Kupadi, Khajuri (Purvi), Khajuri (Paschim) and Baijupatti. The following issues were highlighted: dire need for more doctors, lack of delivery rooms or an alternate arrangement at the camps, entitlements for post natal care not being met, medical teams in the camps are under-staffed, need for clarity about facilities and entitlements provided at the mega camps, need for increasing number of community kitchens in camps, need to address needs of children below 6 years, lack of separate spaces for carrying out Anganwadi related works, need to increase number of hand pumps and toilets etc. They were also confronted with the fact that only 85 of 100 women who had delivered at various mega camps actually realized their entitlements!
On raising the issue of lack of medical personnel in the camps surveyed, the CS informed that the administration was experiencing a shortage of doctors. 38 intra state doctors are being relieved from duty at camps without immediate replacement. At the same time the CS also pointed out that it was important to double number of doctors in each camp in order to provide adequate medical care. The urgent need, therefore, remains of doctors and medical assistants and volunteers. 10 more doctors from KEM, Mumbai are arriving shortly. The interns and Junior Doctors from all medical colleges’ across Bihar must be brought in.
Please do contact Pervin Jehangir, Narmada Navnirman Abhiyan over the phone on 09820636335 in case you wish to offer support in any way. You may also send an e-mail to nba.medha@gmail.com and
pervinjerhangir@gmail.com , pjehangir@gmail.com
Medha Patkar, Kamayani, Pervin Jehangir ,Madhuri Variyath Sant, Dr. Verma.
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