THE deaths of five children within a few months and the hospitalisation of 17 others in a remote Baiga-dominated hamlet of Kabirdham district have triggered serious concerns over child health, malnutrition and access to essential healthcare among one of Chhattisgarh’s most vulnerable tribal communities. With the causes of the fatalities yet to be established, the district administration has intensified medical interventions and ordered an investigation. The deaths were reported from Kumhan-Nandni village in Bodla block, where residents fear that an unidentified illness may be affecting children. However, no official medical findings have established a common cause for the fatalities. Teams from the district Health Department and the Women and Child Development Department have reached the village to examine children, provide treatment and collect information from affected families.

 

During a health camp, 17 children were referred to the Community Health Centre at Bodla and admitted for treatment under medical supervision. The deceased children were reportedly aged between around one-and-a-half and two years, and five and seven years. Health workers are conducting door-to-door visits to identify children requiring urgent medical attention and assess their health. The Women and Child Development Department has launched a village-wide survey to assess children’s health, nutritional status and family circumstances. Departmental official Anand Tiwari, along with his team, visited the settlement and collected information as part of the exercise. According to available information, teams from both departments have been working in the village since June. Their interventions include blood sample collection, vaccination of children and measures to address malnutrition.

 

The deaths and hospitalisation of 17 children have raised questions over the health and nutritional conditions of families in the remote settlement. The investigation is expected to establish the circumstances surrounding the fatalities and identify further measures required to prevent similar cases. Kabirdham Collector Tulika Prajapati has been regularly visiting the village to review the situation. She said teams from both departments were working continuously to address the concerns. Efforts were being made to vaccinate sick children and their mothers and address nutritional deficiencies among children, she said. The Collector added that an investigation team had been constituted to examine the deaths and would submit its report soon. The findings are expected to clarify the circumstances of the fatalities and help determine measures to prevent further cases.