Noting that a large number of children affected by Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) are becoming disabled with physical, mental and neurological disorder, the Centre has asked the States to make District Disability Rehabilitation Centres (DDRC) fully functional.
Union Health Minister JP Nadda, at a meeting with health secretaries of JE-affected States — UP, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam and Tamil Nadu — also pointed out that it was necessary to maintain high coverage of immunisation and implement vector control measures in a coordinated manner for AES. As clean drinking water is a key requirement, the Minister asked the States to make full use of the funding made available by the Department of Drinking Water and Supply.
Nadda also advised the Central Ministries like Social and Welfare Ministry and Water and Sanitation Ministry should depute officers to visit the affected States particularly field areas for addressing various problems which may arise in actual implementation of the schemes. The Ministry has already initiated process of setting up DDRCs in 60 priority districts. Tamil Nadu has set-up DDRCs in all districts including 4 priority districts out of its own resources while other States are in the process of setting them.