“Even if it is a viral infection the rise in deaths necessitates an immediate thorough investigation for the purposes of digging out the root causes of the disease.”
The shocking deaths of over a dozen people due to mysterious illness in Budhal area of Rajouri district in a short span of few days shows that delivery of health services is not working well in the district and situation is a wakeup call for Government particular the district administration Rajouri and Health Services Directorate Jammu. While the accountability of the health staff in Government run hospitals is a matter of grave concern, the much bigger concern is the cause of the spread of mysterious illness which if allowed spreading to adjoining areas of Budhal would ultimately change into a crisis of health and life safety in the entire Rajouri district. The causes of the spread of the mysterious illness can be investigated on the basis of its symptoms like fever, vomiting, dehydration and loss of consciousness reported so for and better to get the causes of the disease investigated from top health experts of SKIMS Soura, AIIMS Jammu or even from the top health experts of some top referral hospitals of Delhi. Even if it is a viral infection the rise in deaths necessitates an immediate thorough investigation for the purposes of digging out the root causes of the disease. The anxieties of the affected families and the local population cannot be overlooked in view of the delay in the reports from Jammu & Kashmir Forensic Laboratory. The delay in reports also shows that the J&K Forensic Laboratory also does not work well the cause of which could be either negligence of the officials or the lack of key facilities. Unfortunately Government has not shown zero tolerance against the delay in investigation and reports besides delays in responses to health emergencies in Government hospitals in entire Rajouri district particularly the Budhal area.
“The relief to the affected families and dawn to dusk vigil over the delivery of health services not only in the Budhal area but in the entire Rajouri district is the bigger challenge for both the District Administration Rajouri and as well as the Directorate of Health Services Jammu. The operation of a health crisis management system strong enough to show quick response to health emergencies under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri and Divisional Commissioner can reduce the vulnerability of people to the ongoing mysterious illness in Rajouri district particularly Budhal area.”
The Videos showing ministers and top officials inspecting health facilities in Government hospitals on social media sites are not sufficient enough to induce accountability in the health system but quick response to health emergencies like the present one in Budhal area of Rajouri district requiring availability of critical health infrastructure demands and deserves immediate attention of even the Health Minister and as well as the Chief Minister. The relief to the affected families and dawn to dusk vigil over the delivery of health services not only in the Budhal area but in the entire Rajouri district is the bigger challenge for both the District Administration Rajouri and as well as the Directorate of Health Services Jammu. The operation of a health crisis management system strong enough to show quick response to health emergencies under the direct supervision of Deputy Commissioner Rajouri and Divisional Commissioner can reduce the vulnerability of people to the ongoing mysterious illness in Rajouri district particularly Budhal area.
