This is one such event I get reminded of when in the scorching sun of May; We, I, Arindam and Pramila (lady supervisor) went out exploring (exploring because it was the first time for all of us) one of the tribal blocks of Deogarh. The purpose was to monitor the immunization sites in the various Anganwadi centers of Laimura sector.
It was almost at the end of the day that we reached the AWC of Lamdora-I, where the immunization of all the four centers of the village was being conducted. Immunization was almost in its last phase when we reached there after visiting three immunization sites; the ANM had already left after completion of her task.
Our attention, after checking the records and the number of beneficiaries, centered at the old man sitting at the corner of the AWC with a girl child of around 6-7 years, with a ‘loaded disposable syringe needle’ in his hand. We could see this syringe was used once; it had air bubbles in it... On inquiring further the man told that his granddaughter is suffering from fever for past one week and when he took her today to the sub center at Laimura, it was diagnosed as Malaria.
“Doctor Sahib gave me this injectable medicine for 5 days in the syringe for my granddaughter as I told I can’t come every day on a bicycle”.
This man did not carry any prescription of the medicine, the syringe once used by the ANM to give the child injection for malaria and rest was preserved for the next time. On interrogating, we found the neither the old man nor anyone in the family had any clue how to inject medicine and remove air bubbles in the syringe. The old man refused to hear and rather got agitated when was questioned about such practices.
This even was discussed with the highest rung officers in the district and was then found that the sub center has a vacant position of MO (incharge) and an AYUSH doctor is only one handling (-mishandling ) the cases in the clinic. The practice seen and observed was found to be no one’s fault! The child’s life was to be claimed by no one, had it been a mishap!
This is one of the many stories which are seen happening on the field; this one got words, whereas the others are simply lost wordless. But they cost more to us than just being lost, they cost us lives of the hundreds and thousands of children who are to be addressed as futures of our nation. The only question that arises, “Is this how the future need to be plowed?”
The only thing which could summarize the whole anecdote is the verses from Daniel Webster:
“I apprehend no danger to our country from a foreign foe... Our destruction, should it come at all, will be from another quarter. From the inattention of the people to the concerns of their government, from their carelessness and negligence, I must confess that I do apprehend some danger.”
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