With the death toll crossing the 100 mark due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), a case has been filed against Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey in Muzaffarpur Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) court for not creating awareness about the deadly disease. The plea by the social activist Tamanna Hashmi will be heard on June 24.
Harsh Vardhan, who had visited the district on Sunday to review the situation in the hospitals there, has denied any negligence saying teams were stationed in Muzaffarpur from the very first day and were working too. Meanwhile, a video surfaced wherein Pandey is seen asking for latest score of the India-Pakistan cricket match during the State Health Department meeting over the AES deaths on June 16 adding to the prevailing anger among the people against the Government.
According to official data, 85 children have died in Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), while 17 have lost their lives in Kejriwal hospital in the city in the past fortnight. Most of the casualties affected by the Syndrome are between the age group of 1-10.
AES is a viral disease, which causes mild flu-like symptoms such as high fever, convulsions, and headaches. According to reports, more than 290 children are still admitted in the ICU of the Sri Krishna Medical College.
The Centre has announced plans to set up five virological labs in different districts in the State. The location of the district can be decided in consultation with the State Government and can be funded through NHM, said Harsh Vardhan in a statement here.
A high-level central team has been sent to Muzaffarpur to set up a state-of-the-art multi-disciplinary research centre in the wake of the children death due to suspected encephalitis.
In one of the decisions taken during his visit to Muzaffarpur, the Union Minister has instructed to set up a 100-bedded paediatric ICU at SKMCH by the State Government. Also, in the adjoining districts, 10 bedded paediatric ICUs will be set up with support from the Centre, so that such cases can be given better and exclusive treatment and there is no unnecessary load on the facilities available at SKMCH.
Emphasising the need for early detection and treatment of hypoglycemia cases, Harsh Vardhan said that a dedicated team of doctors should be placed in endemic PHCs with required facilities at least for 3 to 4 months before and during onset of disease and they may be incentivised under NHM appropriately.
As for present, the concerned PHCs and CHCs should take prompt corrective measures for hypoglycaemia at the facility itself to utilize the golden hour, he added.
Harsh Vardhan also said that Ministry of Earth Science will be requested to upgrade its IMD observatory facility for improved monitoring of climate related parameters such as temperature humidity, rainfall, heat waves, etc., and share it with the State Government and NCDC for better preparedness and management of AES.
“The central government will provide all possible help including financial to the state to control the situation, provide proper treatment and develop infrastructure needed for it,” Health Minister said.
Social activist Tamanna Hashmi in his petition has alleged that Harsh Vardhan and Mangal Pandey failed to fulfill their duties to control the outbreak of AES, while both had done nothing to create awareness and sensitise people in the affected areas despite the fact that AES had been killing children for years.
Hashmi said that he has filed the case against the accused, Harsh Vardhan and Mangal Pandey, under 323, 308 and 504 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
“Large number of children died due to negligence and lack of infrastructure to give them timely proper treatment”, he said.
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) too has issued notices to the Union Health Ministry and the Bihar government over reports of increasing deaths of children due to the deadly disease, a senior official said.