Valley breathes easy

Seasonal diseases see a dip in Visakha Agency this year even as tribals remain hesitant to visit hospitals

The silver clouds kissing the mountain peaks and passing over the ghat road, leading to Araku Valley, are a tourist’s delight during the monsoon. In contrast, a little distance away from the main road into the woods, tribal hamlets are plagued by diseases which are common during the rainy season. However, this year the incidence of malaria in the tribal areas is about 55% less compared to the same period (up to July 10) last year. Officials attribute it to increased disease surveillance, spraying of insecticides to control mosquitoes and holding of medical camps in the affected areas. Meghana, aged around 5, was lying on a mat on the mud floor in the verandah of their house at Teegalamada village of Kothuru panchayat, about 5 km from the main road at Sivalingapuram. Her 10-year-old sister Lakshmi Prasanna was covering her with a blanket. Both have been affected by malaria.