Despite awareness campaigns, a person infected with Hepatitis-B virus has been ostracised by locals of the village in Kendrapada district.
The victim Prabhakar Pradhan (50), a resident of Atal village under Ali block, is now staying at his brother’s home following social restrictions imposed on him at his native village. According to reports, Prabhakar was working in Kolkata for his livelihood. He left the city and came back home two years ago after he fell sick. He underwent treatment at the Primary Health Centre in Ali and then at the district hospital. After his disease was not cured following treatment, he consulted the doctors at the SCB Medical College Hospital in Cuttack. During the treatment, his wife left him and went to her father’s house.
Suspecting Prabhakar to have been suffering from an unknown disease, the locals banned him from using the village pond and tube-well.
However, Prabhakar’s brother Kailash, even after separation of their families, stood by him during his bad times and brought him to his home.
Prabhakar is infected with Hepatitis B virus, said
Dr Manoj Senapati in the Ali hospital, adding that there should not be any social restrictions on the patient affected by this virus.