HT Bureau
DIPHU, April 19: In view of the recent deaths by consuming wild mushrooms, the Karbi Anglong district health department in collaboration with the District Health Society, National Health Mission have organised an awareness programme in the district.
The awareness programme included different activities like sensitization meeting in villages, announcements in market places and on roads, screening of short social media films, radio messages and posts on social media platforms like Facebook, Youtube, X etc. on the side effects of consuming wild mushrooms.
Five out of nine members of a family had died after consuming wild poisonous mushrooms in Borjuri Kleng Bey Village of Rongmongve in Karbi Anglong district.
Sources from the district health department informed that with the rains the time of growing wild mushrooms in jungles has arrived. Villagers venture into the forest to forage for wild mushrooms. Some people cannot differentiate between poisonous and edible mushrooms and end up eating the poisonous ones.
The health officials, ASHA and health workers met people in the villages and organised awareness programmes. The awareness programme will continue up to June, the health department said.