THE JHARKHAND STORY NETWORK
Daltonganj, February 21: At least 57 people are primarily diagnosed to be suffering from fluorosis at village Jaram under the Sadar block in Latehar.
55 out of 57 are having frank dental fluorosis. It includes 36 females and 19 males. The dental and skeletal fluorosis cases are in the age group of 01 to 60 plus. Children are also affected by it.
Dental and skeletal
The two others have twin fluorosis. It’s both dental and skeletal. Incidentally, it has affected one male and one female so far.
Jaram village has 67 households with 337 headcounts here.
118 villagers of Jaram had turned up at this special health camp on February 19.
The detection cum diagnosis of the fluorosis was conducted by a team of doctors, dental hygienists, epidemiologists etc, on February 19 at village Jaram.
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Dr Kamlesh Chandra leads doctors’ team
The team of doctors was led by Kamlesh Chandra, an orthopaedic, accompanied by Chandramani Bakhla and Anjali Priya.
The team also had district consultants NPPCF (National Programme for Prevention and Control of Fluorosis) Khushbu Tirkey, Chandrama Paswan and Anil Kr Singh, dental hygienists, Hira Lal pharmacist, etc.
The entire fleet of health personnel of the nearby Ayushman Arogya Mandir Pochra had joined this medical team.
Latehar Civil Surgeon Dr Awadesh Singh constituted the medical team under orders of DC Garima Singh.
According to the senior health official Ved Prakash, “the DC had her first interaction with the local media here on her day 1 in office. Some journalists apprised DC madam of the fluorosis affectation at village Jaram.”
“The DC, taking immediate note of it, directed the civil surgeon to send a medical team to this village, Jaram. A team was formed, and it went to Jaram village on February 19, where a special health camp was held,” added Ved Prakash.
Disability certificate
The team found three children in a family who were dumb and deaf. The family has no disability certificate in respect of these 3. The team asked the family head to visit Sadar Hospital Latehar for a disability certificate.
The medical team has asked for de-fluoridation here. The drinking water and sanitation department is to take the necessary steps.
Piped water supply
The western side of Jaram village is more affected by fluorosis. A piped water supply can overcome this problem. There are two wells and four water towers on the western side of Jaram, and its water has more fluoride content.
The civil surgeon said, “Jaram village has a dividing road. The eastern side of this village is free of the high concentration of fluoride. The effect of fluorosis is only on the western side of the village. Drinking water officials need to look into it without any more delay.”
Desirable limit of fluoride
According to the Bureau of Indian Standards, the desirable limit of fluoride in drinking water should be 1mg per litre or one ppm (parts per million). Fluoride concentration @1.5ppm harms teeth, while 1.5ppm above fluoride concentration strikes bones too severely.
The fluorosis’ nature and number of affectations at Jaram appear to be more than 1ppm per litre. It’s dangerously a significant health hazard.
Ved Prakash said the medical team has suggested that the Jaram people have regular health checks and eat millet, green leafy vegetables, lemons, etc.
Tablets of calcium and multivitamins were distributed among the affected people here.
The findings of fluorosis affectation at village Jaram have been sent to the state surveillance officer, NPPCF.
