No reports on 775 deaths in Agency

Paderu, Visakhapatnam, Nov. 1: A report released by the health department said that about 1,536 tribals had died due to various diseases from January 1 to August 31, 2009, but could not find a cause for 775 deaths.

Only two persons died of malaria and many died of other diseases. Most people died of old age, the report said.

About 196 died in January, 182 in February, 136 in March, 175 in April, 197 in May, 182 in June, 223 in July, 245 in August.

The report said that 81 died of appendicitis, 63 due to asthma, 58 due to heart stroke, 47 lung diseases, 39 due to paralysis, 32 were killed in accidents, 30 due to hepatitis, 29 of tuberculosis (TB), 26 due to fits, 14 of heart diseases, 12 died of snake bites, 11 after consuming poison, one succumbed to AIDS, seven died due to malnutrition, five pregnant women during delivery, and three died after consuming contaminated food.

About 47 infants died during various stages. Local people say that health officials have failed to show the causes for 775 deaths, and these could have occurred due to malaria, fevers, diarrhoea and other endemic diseases.

The reports were prepared as per the inputs given by health officials of primary health centres (PHC) and no ground work was done to get the reports and facts from interior villages, a health official said.