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Detractors gun for Naidu as gastro claims 881 lives in AP

M S Shanker in Hyderabad

Gastroenteritis has so far claimed 881 lives in Andhra Pradesh, catching the Nara Chandrababu Naidu government unawares.

As many as 450 of these deaths have been reported from the most backward north Telangana district Adilabad in the last two-and-a-half months.

With most of the remaining victims -- 313 - hailing from Hayatnagar, a suburb of Hyderabad, the deadly disease threatens to strike the state capital.

Figures made available by state Health Secretary Rachel Chatterjee, however, puts the toll at 875. What is more, there seems to be a significant jump in the number of gastroenteritis cases - from 26,000 cases last year to 31,253 this year.

Startled by the tragedy, Naidu, who is emphasising 'clean and green' environs in the fifth phase of his pet Janmabhoomi programme, issued marching orders to the assistant engineer of Hayatnagar municipality for dereliction of duty in tackling the disease.

Naidu also announced the setting up of a committee, headed by a joint collector, to study the causes for the sudden spurt in gastroenteritis cases in and around Hyderabad and suggest remedial measures.

What perturbed Naidu was in spite of his repeated instructions and timely release of funds, completion of platforms around hand pumps was slow and tardy. ''The work should be taken up on a war-footing,'' he pointed out.

What is more shocking is that health department officials were initially unable to ascertain whether it was a cholera or gastroenteritis epidemic.

Complaints against the Adilabad officials seem to be more serious. Despite reports of the disease spreading, the officials failed to alert the people.

The health secretary, however, attributes the high incidence of gastroenteritis in Adilabad district to the popular belief among the tribals that loose motions, if unchecked, would purge the entire body. Consumption of tribal medicines and some unclean food habits are some of the other reasons cited by her.

The outbreak of gastroenteritis is not uncommon in Telangana. However, the toll would not have been so high if the government's primary health centres took precautionary measures.

Asked why they failed to check the spread of the disease, one official blamed unproductive programmes like Janmabhoomi which left them with little time.

Meanwhile, confusion continues to persist over the disease with Health Minister Dr N Janardhan Reddy and the health secretary expressing contradictory views on it.

While the minister claims it is cholera, Chatterjee insists is gastroenteritis.

Dr Reddy's conclusion is driven by the fact that rectum swab tests, done in six cases in Adilabad and Mahabubnagar districts, have tested positive for the disease.

Whatever may be the disease, the huge toll has put the Naidu government on the mat for the second time in six months - the first was when scores of debt-trapped cotton growers committed suicide. That too, in the backward Telangana, where Naidu baiters are gunning for his scalp for neglecting the region.

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