CAG raps Kerala health department

The Comptroller and Auditor General (CAG) has expressed concern over the failure of the public health system in Kerala to tackle the prevalence of sickle cell anaemia among the tribal population in Wayanad, home to nearly 31 per cent of Adivasi communities in the state.

According to a recent CAG report, out of the 85 per cent of tribal population screened by health authorities in the district, a total of 706 persons were found to be affected with the disease while 6,992 showed its traits.

Quoting a survey by the National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) from 2007-08 to 2012-13, it said as many as 312 of those suffering from the "life-long inherited disease" were in the age group of 18-40 and 262 in the school-going age of 5-17.

Sickle Cell Anaemia is an inherited disease characterised by red blood cells that assuming a sickle shape making normal life difficult in later stages of the sickness.

The NRHM had recommended grant of incentives to the school going students to continue their studies and for preferential treatment and temporary and contract jobs to those patients in the age group of 18-40, it said. However, the government and district administration did not initiate steps to implement this, the report said. The report also found fault with the state health department for not completing the disease screening to cover the entire tribal population in the region.

"No special efforts have been made by the Health Department to extend help to the identified patients to lead a normal life," it added.