NPP slams Govt for diarrhoea deaths in State

SHILLONG: With the State witnessing around 100 fatalities due to diarrhoea in the last two years, the Opposition National People’s Party (NPP) has condemned the State Government over such deaths.
The State has recorded 71 deaths below the age of one year and 29 more between 1-5 years due to diarrhoea, according to a report for 2016-17.
Speaking on the matter, NPP leader James Sangma said diarrhoea is not a life threatening disease and it can be treated if proper medical treatment is given.
Terming the deaths of infants as unfortunate, Sangma said that the deaths indicate that there has been neglect on the part of the State Health department.
“We urge the government to treat every disease with same commitment,” he said
The NPP leader lamented that medical facilities in rural areas were non-existent. He also alleged that medicines were not available in many CHCs and PHCs of the State because of a ‘nexus’ between the suppliers and government officials.
The alarming number of deaths from Diarrhoea has prompted the State Government to launch the Intensified Diarrhoea Control Fortnight (IDCF) with a mission to control diarrhoea-related deaths among children less than five years of age.