Cuttack, March 27: Many city residents suffering from jaundice due to consumption of contaminated water are now depending on traditional healers who claim to cure the waterborne disease through various herbal medicines.

Take the case of 35-year-old Nisha Begum. She is extensively relying on traditional methods to treat her eight-year-old son suffering from jaundice for the last five days.

"We have heard jaundice can be cured by traditional methods and we have absolutely no faith in allopathic medicines. Many people in our locality got cured by traditional healers," said Nisha.

"Most of the herbal remedies are prepared through a mixture of black pepper, leaves and other products. One has to consume the mixture ranging from a period of three to five days. My condition has improved after consuming traditional medicine," said Sazid Khan, a local resident.

Khan said there are a lot of other healers who claim to cure jaundice through mustard oil.

Since many residents believe in traditional methods of treatment carried out by quacks, the poor turnout at a dedicated health camp is a major cause of concern for the senior officials of the district administration. Proper diagnosis of the patients is the most important job to combat the disease.

"It is really unfortunate that most people in Jobra are not turning up at the health camp for proper diagnosis and treatment of jaundice," said chief district medical officer Prafulla Behera.

So far, around 27 persons have been afflicted with jaundice in the last 12 days at three localities in Jobra under ward No. 41 of Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) limits.

Behera added that steps had been taken to ensure people turn up at the health camp for proper treatment of jaundice. An official source said: "Awareness drive has started through public announcements while leaflets are also being distributed to spread facts about the deadly waterborne disease.

The CMC officials, on the other hand, have intensified the process of removal of solid waste from jaundice affected pockets in Jobra.

"We have deployed additional sanitary staff members for the removal of solid waste and assist officials of the public health department for drain cleaning job and realignment of the pipelines," said Gyana Das, the municipal commissioner.

Local residents blamed the lack of a solid waste management system and sewage discharge norms for the jaundice outbreak at Jobra twice in the past one year.

Most of the pipelines pass through the drainage channels in over 50 per cent of Cuttack.

The distribution pipelines are repeatedly getting damaged due to rampant construction activities under the integrated sanitation project while no step is being taken for immediate repairs.

"We have formed 20 teams to detect the source of leakages in the supply of drinking water pipelines. Water is being supplied through 20 temporary tanks installed at various points in and around Jobra," said assistant engineer of the public health department, Bhawani Shankar Mohanty.