Villagers obstruct survey team, claim no Corona in their locality

Human reaction to death and disease can be bizarre but what has happened at Taimadhu area under the jurisdiction of Mungiakami police station of Teliamura subdivision seems nothing short of ridiculous. 

Locals of the area, projecting themselves as super specialists on Covid 19 made a calculated attempt to thwart health workers from entering their locality, who have reached there to conduct a survey to trace Covid 19 symptoms. 

Wooden logs and branches have been put forth in the area in order to obstruct the health professional--ASHA, Anganwadi and MPW staff. The agitators asked the health workers to return back declaring that there are no Covid 19 cases in their area. 

However, after four long hours, the locals lifted the blockade as they had been convinced by District Magistrate Smita Mol of no survey at their area for now. The medical team then rushed to another area that fell under their jurisdiction of survey. 

The survey work just began from Monday to track down the Covid 19 symptoms across the state and many doctors had said that it would further help the government to plan future strategies to battle the disease. “In view of the steadily widening curve of covid 19 in the state the survey stood vital and any impediment coming on its way must be treated strictly”, a doctor said.   

The locals feared that the health professionals might mix up other respiratory problems with Covid 19 and put them in isolation or Covid 19 care centers. And, thus they had come to a unanimous resolution of not allowing anyone to enter the region. 

“We have been told that some doctors are coming here to treat Corona. There are no cases of Corona in our area. We have staged the blockade to obstruct the doctors and we will not allow them to enter our region. They may mix up some other health complications with Corona while collecting swab samples and then put our people in isolation”, a local woman and a participant of the road blockade said.  

As per the newly initiated survey the health professionals will visit every household and collect data of any symptoms related Covid 19. The authorities have also set up adequate centers for sample testing if someone critical is found. But, the incident, to an extent, showed as to how people are still unaware of the developments taking place regarding the Covid 19 in the state. 

“From today we have started the survey related to the Covid 19. As soon as we reached there we saw a mob obstructing us from entering the area. They have informed us that they would not allow us to enter. Accordingly, we have informed the local BDO and SDPO, they have come and gone after sometime but not informed us anything in connection with that”, the supervisor of the team said.