Encephalitis

Encephalitis is hitting all the newspapers and news channels recently. The deadly diseased has killed over 474 people mainly children and around 23000 patients have been admitted to the hospital. This year, it's worse than the previous two, three years because of a new virus. It's a waterborne virus, an entero virus, which comes out from the intestine, in the faeces. It contaminates drinking water, or potable sources. The Local health authorities have been battling the health problem and the city is fighting against the disease with its limited resources and appealing the government for accepting the issue as national calamity on the lines of dengue.

A wailing father, Karmaini resident, Hariom Pandey appealed the health minister, “I admitted my child before 10 days and he was discharged but again my child is in the clutches of the deadly disease. My child is getting treatment with two other children on the same bed. We need help and prayer both.”

Daily deaths of kids and sufferings of patients especially children are heartbreaking. The city is not quite as people like Dr. RN Singh, chief campaigner, NEEM (national encephalitis eradication movement) avers, “The situation is grim the area. In the past 32 years More than 50,000 deaths & many thousands disabilities must have occurred due to this disease. In the “season of death” that is monsoon months farmers kids loss their lives every year. High Court, Allahabad has declared it as a “National Health Emergency” in year 2006. I and my whole family, friends and colleagues are working jointly with our limited recourses to make the situation better. On 1^st January, 2010 we adopted ‘Holia’ near Pipraich village and spread ‘10 steps’ awareness and educated people for the prevention of the disease. We also distributed buckets, soaps and minor monetary help to the sufferers. We had very positive results and no case of JE or Entro viral encephalitis was observed at the palace. It is very clear that the enteroviral (water born) Encephalitis is caused because of improper sanitation and soiling of fecal matter with the drinking water. JE is due to mosquito ‘culex’ that bit swine. We also ‘Swajal Dhara Yojana’ under this the water is kept in the bucket under sunlight and kept for 6 hours. The ultra violet rays kill the virus. All this involves lot of funds and several departments evolvement. We appeal the Government to place both J.E. and Enteroviral Eradication in Twelfth Five Year Plan. We wrote blood letters from 21 provinces to the Government for dragging their attention towards the grim situation. We are happy that health minister visited us and acquainted with the problem. We are waiting for their response and ready to write blood letters from each block.”   

Government has established a treatment center in medical college and putting deep tube wells and deeper hand pumps but still the resources for fighting against the deadly diseases is not enough as Dr. KP Kushwaha , head of pediatrics at the B.R.D. Medical College in Gorakhpur laments over the condition, “ I’m facing very difficult situation as daily JE and entrovirul hit patients are being admitted to the hospital and in dearth of resources and manpower is creating jeopardizing the situation. In 2004 then chief-minister provided ventilators, oxygen etc. to ward no -6. There was announcement of encephalitis ward and research center but no work was done. In 2006 high court declared it as health emergency but resources were not sufficient. In 2009 Rs. 5 crore 88 lakh came so staff and doctors were kept. In 2010 we didn’t get any monetary assistance and the money was over in July 2011. The salary of the Staff working for encephalitis center is pending since then. We cannot retrench the staff as the requirement is of more. The staff had no Dusshera and Diwali holidays. It is very difficult to motivate them for hard work. We require skilled workers and Rs. 3000/month is a very less amount. All the serious cases are referred to the center from civil hospital. The center is over loaded. The visit of health minister has shown positive signs. We are waiting for help from the government as instruments, chemicals, medicines and salary of the staff is urgently required.”

  Jatashanker Tripathi, active social worker of a renowned NGO also adopted a village near Campeargunj and ran a campaign against dry toilets in the city.