Over one crore pilgrims expected to visit the forthcoming Magh Mela may not get proper medical and health facilities in the Mela area this year. Due to vested interest of some 'parties' the preparations by the district health department in Mela area for the devotees has got delayed and off-track.
The preparations are also getting delayed in the absence of regular chief medical officer here. Whereas the other officers posted at the district health department lack experience to manage medical services for such a large number of people.
The Magh Mela is all set to kick off in the next 14 days. But the district health department which was supposed to camp first for making Mela area fit for the pilgrims and Kalpvasis, is yet to set up a hospital in the Mela area.
The pits in the Mela area have not been filled due to which the people who have already arrived in the Mela area are facing risk of malaria and other water borne diseases. The Mela boundary has also not been sealed with insecticide.
The recruitment of safai karmacharis is also yet to be finalised, despite the fact that the bathing for two main occasion of Paus Purnima and Makar Sankranti will fall on the same day.
{{/usCountry}}The recruitment of safai karmacharis is also yet to be finalised, despite the fact that the bathing for two main occasion of Paus Purnima and Makar Sankranti will fall on the same day.
{{/usCountry}}In this way the district health department has very less time for completing the preparations. However in the name of preparations only a godown has been established there.
Store Incharge Dr Murari Verma claimed that the preparations will complete within next 14 days or before the Mela starts. Additional chief medical officer Dr SC Gupta informed that a 30-bed hospital will be set up in the Mela area, which will have all the emergency and medical facilities.
"Three First Aid Centres will also be established in different zones. Atleast 50 doctors will be deputed in the Mela area. A list of 25 doctors has already been prepared. The medical officers posted in Pratapgarh, Kaushambi and Fatehpur areas will also be deputed in the Mela area," he added.