PATNA: Eight districts from
Bihar are among the 20 most vulnerable districts in the country in terms of long-term effects of the Covid-19 pandemic, says a study published in the global medical journal ‘Lancet’. This despite the fact that the state does not figure among the top-10 worst-hit states in the country.
Among the eight districts in Bihar flagged by Lancet,
Darbhanga
is the most vulnerable with an overall vulnerability of 1, followed by Samastipur (0.997), Saran (0.995), Sheohar (0.994), Vaishali (0.991), Saharsa (0.989), Munger (0.978) and Khagaria with 0.972.
Darbhanga also tops the national list as the most vulnerable for long-term impact of the pandemic.
The vulnerabilities have been rated on a scale from zero to one, measured using 15 indicators across five parameters, including socio-economic, demographic, housing and hygiene, healthcare facilities and epidemiological.
Bihar has the second-highest vulnerability rate among 30 large states, including Madhya Pradesh, Telangana,
Jharkhand
, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra,
West Bengal
,
Odisha, and Gujarat. As of now, the total number of positive cases in Bihar is 23,300 and 14,997 have already recovered from the disease.
Experts point at the largescale arrival of migrant workers during the nationwide lockdown as one of the major reasons for the spike in cases in Bihar.
“Most migrant workers travelled to Bihar from some of the most vulnerable states as mentioned in the vulnerability indices. These workers returned from states with large number of active cases, including Delhi, Maharashtra and Tamil Nadu,” said Dr Arun Shah, a Muzaffarpur-based senior paediatrician.
With a vulnerability index of 0·879 in the socioeconomic domain, 0·588 in demographic, 0·903 in housing and hygiene conditions, 0·833 in unavailability of healthcare and 0·800 in epidemiological, no wonder Darbhanga tops not only among the districts in the state but also nationally.
Darbhanga DM Thiyagrajan SM said the current situation might be very challenging but there isn’t any specific threat in the near future. “The district’s vast geographical area of 2,279sqkm is one of the topmost reasons behind the findings of the Lancet study. However, the situation is under control as we have one of the highest testing rates. Of the 462 overall Covid-19 positive cases, only 67 are active,” he said.
Talking about the health infrastructure, he said measures are being taken to improve the health facilities in the district. “As of now, we have one Covid-19 dedicated hospital — the Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital, where a majority of patients have been treated,” he added.
Bibekanand Thakur, under-secretary, state health department, too cited the arrival of migrant workers as one of the reasons behind the spread in the cases. “There are several other factors such as exit from the lockdown. But as far as migrant workers are concerned, the uncertainty and lack of basic items made them return to their native places,” he said, adding, that health workers and doctors are trying their best to combat the virus.
As non-availability of healthcare facilities is also one of the major reasons, the Bihar chapter of Indian Medical Association senior vice-president Ajay Kumar said ‘healthcare’ is one of the most neglected sectors in Bihar.
“There’s no denying that the study has been published after utmost research. All the factors, be it lack of medical facilities or human resources, exist here. And the government is not the only one to be blamed. Health workers don’t want to work here. They leave the state for better opportunities. In fact most of them are not ready to work in rural areas,” he said.