Showing concern over 12 deaths in last 48 hours of encephalitis the BJP said State Government’s failure to initiate vaccination programme has led to the death of innocent children in eastern Uttar Pradesh.
Addressing reporters here on Tuesday BJP chief spokesman Vijay Bahadur Pathak said that Government’s apathy has taken the toll to 107 till date. This number is bound to increase because of Government’s initiative to start anti-encephalitis vaccination programme. Childern up to 15 years of age are affected by encephalitis."The eastern Uttar Pradesh is endemic to encephalitis. The Central and state governments know about this. Still no effort has been taken to tackle it at the onset. When deaths toll starts mounting the Governments start talking about vaccination of children," Pathak said.
He said that Government itself claims that only 10 per cent of the targeted children have been vaccinated in 20 identified districts. "The AES, which is another form of encephalitis, spreads through unhygienic environment. The Government has not even taken steps to control this," he said. The death of 12 children in 48 hour is a deadly warning that this year toll may go up. The need of the hour is to protect villagers from this disease. Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav should give clear directives to control encephalitis, Pathak said.