Dozens die of malaria in Mullaitivu

[TamilNet, Tuesday, 06 January 1998, 23:59 GMT]
Four persons at the Mulangavil Ilaiyaval settlement were among the 42 persons who died from Malaria in the Mullaitivu District last month, said sources in Vavuniya. Among the 42, nine were infants under one year.

Meanwhile, there is only one trained person to conduct blood tests at the Akkarayan hospital where over 1000 patients come for treatment daily. Some patients are turned back due to the shortage of staff. The doctor has protested that he is unable to cope with the situation.

At the Oddisuddan dispensary 6066 patients were treated between October and December last year for malaria at the average of 277 persons per day.

The victims from the Mulankavil settlement included Sebastiampillai Collins (28) a refugee from Pashaiyoor in Jaffna, Anthonypillai Francis Xavier (75) from Gurunagar in Jaffna, Francis Xavier Angelina (51) and four month old infant Nesarajah Mayuran.

Continuing rain, congestion through the presence of refugees, lack of medicines and hospitals are among the causes for the spread of the disease.

There have been complaints from government officials and NGOs that inadequate medical facilities in the Vanni have caused great hardship to both residents and refugees in the area.