Trans-Yamuna area faces risk of various diseases

A RESEARCH scholar of Allahabad University (AU) Geography department has found that specific geographical and ecological settings produce specific types of diseases in that region. The research also found that would-be mothers and children of low socio-economic status in Allahabad's Trans-Yamuna area to be suffering from various deficiency diseases.

The study—Disease Ecology of Trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad District: A Case Study in Medical Geography— carried out by Shikha Dixit under the supervision of Head of the AU Geography department Prof HN Mishra found that high malaria prevalence is the characteristic feature of undulated terrain while diarrhoea and gastro-enteritis are the character features of flood-prone areas.

"Samples were taken from households falling within the low socio-economic status and about 70 per cent pregnant women were found anaemic while 90 per cent children were found to be of poor antropometric status," said Prof Mishra.

We found that the Trans-Yamuna region of Allahabad is at risk from various diseases and incidences of various communicable diseases are more during the monsoons. "The main reason for this could be the widespread insanitation and high multiplication of both the pathogens and the vectors in the rainy season," he added.

The study also found a number of anomalies in the health care delivery system. "We found the chasm between the number of facilities and the population to be served.

The locations of the health facilities don't follow any threshold; they are randomly distributed. The basic infrastructure of Community Health Centres and Primary Health Centres is very poor. They are not able to meet or cope with many an emergent epidemics," Prof Mishra said.

He informed that there are several hidden factors which too affect the overall performance of the health facilities. "These are designated as critical factors such as locational constraints, poor building condition, irregular water and electricity supply, poor mobility infrastructure, faulty drug procurement and distribution system as well as poor supply chain of basic infrastructure. The health economics is not in favour of the health care delivery system because it is neither self-sustaining nor there is any effort on the part of the government to make it permanently viable," he added.

The study found that there is an immediate need for preparation of a digital database containing information about physiographical details, socio-economic data, sanitation conditions, status of potable water, nutritional status and health facilities. "This will help the decision makers while taking important decisions pertaining to health improvement of the people," Prof Mishra said.

The study has also found that malaria risk stratification up to village level is needed to rationalise the control measures taken by the various agencies. "The research findings stress on the need of identifying vector transmission sites in the region. Vector control is the only practical approach to check the mosquito-borne diseases like malaria, encephalitis and filaria. The map will help mosquito abatement workers to know exactly where water pools are situated so that abatement efforts can be intensified," he added.

Prof Mishra said that identifying high risk villages is an important exercise needed for planning and improvement of health facilities and health of villagers. "To face future challenges of health, the study has suggested five steps including poverty alleviation through employment generation scheme in order to counter the problem of malnutrition, vigorous persuasion and mass awakening of family planning, adequate, dedicated and trained manpower with strong database, good accessibility as well as improvement in female literacy and environmental sanitation," Prof Mishra said.