Aila victims hoarding medicines in panic

KUMIRMARI/MATHURAKHAND: Driven by arduous circumstances, villagers in the Aila-affected Sundarbans who get little healthcare facilities even in the best of times are stockpiling supplies at temporary medical camps.
Fearing a grim future, many are trying to procure essential medicines that will become scarce when non-governmental medical aid will stop flowing into the region.As much as a manifestation of their mistrust on the governmental health service, this reaction is borne out of ignorance of appropriate health practices.
At Majherpara in Kumirmari, where about 350 patients queued up over two days at a temporary medical camp organised by Kolkata-based NGO Nature Wildlife and Environment Society (NEWS), a significant number came only to obtain Oral Rehydration Solution (ORS) packets that are primarily used to aid the treatment of diarrhoea.
"Patients come and directly tell us that they want ORS packets. Some complain of nausea and headache to get these. If six people from one family get a packet of ORS each, that makes six packets for one household. It's not that there isn't diarrhoea here, but most are mild cases. People are clearly stocking up," medical volunteer Dr Sayan Mukherjee said.
At another temporary medical camp in Mathurakhand, too, large numbers came to get packets of ORS and other diarrhoea drugs. And here too, doctors felt that more than half of those queuing up were in no immediate need of these medicines.
"Children are being sent by their parents to ask for specific medicines. Since it is difficult for us to ascertain if the cases are genuine, we are giving them the drugs. But there are also seemingly healthy individuals who are requesting medicines even though they don't know under what circumstances these drugs should be used. A woman asked for ORS because she believed it is good for digestion," another volunteer Dr Arif Hossain revealed.
NGO workers felt that a prevailing sense of panic coupled with a sparse medical infrastructure was forcing villagers to accumulate everything within reach.
"There medical service in this region is minimal, of which the government's contribution isn't much. Since villagers don't get to see qualified doctors often, there is a sentiment that one must be checked up at these medical camps and medicines must be given. Many are also afraid and unaware. To them, having medicines at home is a comfort factor as they don't know when the supply will come next," Partha Dey of NEWS said.
The scarcity scare is also leading to malpractice as a substantial amount of aid is being routed through unqualified medical practitioners. The administering of saline solution through intravenous (IV) drips, for instance, is being used widely despite not being essential in many cases. Reports, though unconfirmed, of patients being given IV drips far more than the prescribed amount were numerous.
"IV drips should only be used when the oral route is not available and is not required for mild cases of diarrhoea. Only about 10% of the total cases that I've actually seen require this, but a much higher number are being administered the drips. If this continues, it may not be possible to treat serious cases later," Mukerjee said.