West Singhbhum, Jharkhand:
More than 300
jawans of the CRPF , fighting Naxals in Jharkhand's West Singhbhum district, are having to tackle a new menace these days: malaria Malaria has hit the district in a big way and CRPF camps are very badly hit . Add to this lack of basic health infrastructure across the district, and there is a very serious problem facing our soldiers.
More and helicopters are being required to airlift more and more CRPF
jawans to Jharkhand's capital Ranchi are increasing. As most CRPF camps are located in remote and inhospitable areas of this Naxal-infested district, primary healthcare is not available.
The malaria menace has caused the death of a
jawan last month and army officials estimate more than 300 soldiers are down with malaria.
The other problem is where to house the sick soldiers. Beds are in short supply not only at the district headquarters hospital but also at RIMS which is Ranchi's premier multi-speciality referral hospital. Though doctors say they are trying their best, the problem doesn't look like its going away anytime soon.