These endosulfan victims need more than just relief

‘I pray God to give us strength to take care of my children’ says mother

Doctors checking the health of endosulfan victims at a health camp at Primary Health Center in Moodubidri, on Tuesday. Photo: H.S.Manjunath

Thirty seven-year-old Donald stands at a corner of the Community Health Centre while his parents are talking to the ENT doctor, who has certified him of having 80 per cent profound hearing loss. His mother, aged 60, suddenly turns to see his son walking out of the hospital. She runs to him and brings him back.

Loss of faculties

“He cannot hear anything I say to him even if I speak at the top of my voice,” says his mother and turns to her elder son Bryan, who is aged 39. “He can hear to some extent in the right ear,” she says and goes towards him to show the doctor the way she interacts with him. Bryan turns her away. The two can neither hear nor speak.

Bryan and Donald, the residents of Hosbettu near Moodbidri, are among the 13 persons identified as those affected by endosulfan. They had come with their parents to the Community Health Centre in Moodibidri on Tuesday for check-up by ENT specialist from Wenlock Hospital to certify the extent of disability. This is necessary to entitle Bryan and Donald with monthly pension granted by the State government.

“The two do not ask anything. Bryan can only say Maa,” says their mother to

The Hindu as tears roll down her cheeks. She brushes their teeth, gives them bath and also shaves their beards.

“My husband gets tensed doing it; hence I completely take care of the two.” She says they stopped visiting hospitals in Mangalore two decades ago when a doctor asked them not to spend much as their children’s brain had not developed. “I do not know what has led to this disability. I only pray God to give us strength to take care of my children.”

Pension

A total of 27 persons, including those who are receiving pension, from Hosbettu, Maruru and Iruvail in Mangalore Taluk visited the health centre on Tuesday. This was the third monthly camp organised for the endosulfan victims by the State government. Apart from the doctors at the centre, a team of doctors from Yenepoya Medical College offered their services.

A similar camp was held in primary health centres in Kaniyur in Belthangady taluk, Kolya in Puttur taluk and Bellare in Sullia taluk on Tuesday. On Wednesday these camps will be held at Kokkada in Belthangady and Vittal in Bantwal taluk