The Times of India:Monday, January 16, 2012.
NAGPUR: A ten-point plan that the Maharashtra Lokayukta directed the state's public health department to execute in three months' time in April 2010, still awaits execution. On Friday, the officials from the department were summoned by the State Information Commissioner to know about the progress of the plan. All the pointers within the plan were being worked upon, ensured the officials. Some, however, are still wary about them leading to anything concrete.
Chief among the directions of the Lokayukta, was the implementation of the sickle cell control programme in all 19 affected districts of the state that included setting up a sickle cell research institute and a sickle cell control organization at state level, along with surveys to determine the population group most affected by the disease. The data obtained through the survey was supposed to be used for the research. However, preliminary study of the population has been going on since the last ten years without any conclusive reports surfacing.
After the stipulated period given to the public health department for execution of the plan was over, they asked for an extension of three months, another extension for one month and finally another one for two months. Despite being provided with double the original time limit, the execution is still only on paper.
The Sickle Cell Society of India (SCSI) filed a complaint against the authorities doing precious little and providing no information regarding the amenities provided to those suffering from the genetic disorder. Subsequently, the Lokayukta asked the state officials to get at least few things done within three months. "The officials have informed us that a research centre is planned at Dhule and the Government Medical College, Nanded would be attached to it. They are seeking a fund of Rs 53.53 from the central government for establishing it," said Sampat Ramteke, president of SCSI. The society has been fighting for the cause of sickle cell affected people for more than two decades.
However, he had reservations of a big amount being directed towards sickle cell research. "One of the provisions of the plan was providing a concession in ST bus fares to those suffering from the disease. For this, a provision of Rs 1 crore was required. The state asked the Centre for making the budgetary allocation. The amount is yet to be cleared by the concerned departments as per the information we got through RTI. It is sad to see such indifferent attitude about such a serious disease," said Ramteke.
"Unfortunately, in India even health priorities are decided on the basis of vote bank politics by policy makers. So, a disease that affects poor people would definitely have no takers," rued paediatrician Dr Uday Bodhankar, general secretary of the Commonwealth Association for Health and Disability, who also deals with a lot of children suffering from the disease. However, he is all praises for politicians like Hansraj Ahir, who have taken the problem seriously. In the absence of any statisticsbecause of the non-conclusive decade-long surveys, the other instructions of the Lokayukta like conducting research and maintaining database of all patients cannot be fulfilled.
The authorities have not even started with the task that would probably require the least investment - that of creating public awareness about the disease. None of the centres in the medical colleges of the state provide counseling.
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