Srinagar, July 31: Authorities continue to be in a denial mode even as Hepatitis-B cases are witnessing an upward trend in villages of Diver and Lolab in north-Kashmir’s Kupwara district.
Credible departmental sources have revealed to GNS that over the time, cases for Hepatitis-B have surged in the twin villages with no proper vaccination and manpower available with the local health centres to tackle the exigency.
According to sources, the twin villages have around 100 cases registered for Hepatitis-B with less than a dozen cases for the rest of the district. The growing number of cases has sent the whole villages including the adjacent areas into frenzy.
Meanwhile, the locals have rued the overall patient care in the remote area of the district. “We have to travel either to Sogam or Kupwara even for small issues,” they said.
Accusing the doctors of taking them on a ride, the locals said the doctors deputed to the Public Health Centres (PHCs) in the area are “serving elsewhere” while drawing salary from these health centres.
The concerned Block Medical Officer (BMO) declined to comment over the issue despite attempts to reach him through telephone calls and in person as well.
Meanwhile, SDM Sogam visited the spot to assess the situation during which he assured the locals that the issues will be taken up with higher-ups for early redressal. (GNS)
