In Edamalakkudy, the sick are denied treatment by poor roads

Recently, an elderly woman who had developed high fever at Koodallarkudy, a tribal settlement here, had to be carried on a makeshift stretcher for around 10 km through the dense forest to the nearest hospital at Mankulam. The lack of a proper road in the region, situated at Edamalakkudy, the State’s first tribal panchayat, had forced the family of Rajakanni, 60, to undergo the ordeal. The incident occurred in the immediate aftermath of the region witnessing two deaths because of the delay in bringing the ailing to the hospital.

“The timely action helped save the woman’s life. Her grandson had died on August 22 due to high fever. Rajakanni also had fever for two weeks, and on Thursday, her condition worsened, and she had to be shifted to the hospital,” said Sivakumar, a resident of the Koodallarkudy settlement.

“High fever has been reported in many settlements in the panchayat. Since there are no proper roads, people refrain from going to hospitals for treatment. If a road is built, people of Koodallarkudy can easily reach Mankulam and Adimaly,” said Mr. Sivakumar.

On August 21, when Rajakanni’s five-year-old grandson Karthik caught fever, family members had undertaken a similar trek through the forest, carrying the boy on a stretcher to the Mankulam hospital. However, his life could not be saved. The hardship continued even after the child’s death. On August 22, they had to carry the child’s body in a coffin back to the settlement.

On August 26, Amruthavally, 60, a resident of Shedukudy, was brought to the family health centre in Societykudy in a similar manner, seeking treatment for asthma. The delay caused her condition to deteriorate, leading to her death.

MLA’s claims refuted

Tribespeople refuted the claims made by Devikulam MLA A. Raja, in a notice issued during Onam celebrations, that the government had ensured ample facilities for Edamalakkudy. “There is no proper road connectivity in the panchayat and it is a serious issue. The government should take immediate steps to rectify the situation,” said a resident.

Last week, Idukki Collector Dineshan Cheruvatt had directed the Public Works department’s (PWD) road wing to complete the pending concreting works on the road connecting Pettimudy to Societykudy in Edamalakkudy.