Shri Mangal Pandey, Health Minister of Bihar, called on Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, at his residence today to discuss the status of health schemes and the recent rise in seasonal illnesses in the state.
Review of AES and Japanese Encephalitis
During the meeting, Dr. Harsh Vardhan reviewed the reported increase in cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in Muzaffarpur and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in Gaya.
While the Union Minister commended the Bihar government for its success in declining the Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), he expressed concern over the recent spike in AES-related fatalities. Between January 1 and June 8, 2019, the state reported 48 cases of AES, resulting in 11 deaths.
Strategic Interventions and Support
Dr. Harsh Vardhan has directed senior officers of the Health Ministry to collaborate closely with state and district authorities to manage the situation. Key measures include:
Inter-Ministerial Coordination: The Health Ministry is working with the Ministry of Women and Child Development to distribute nutritious food enriched with glucose to help prevent the onset of AES.
Central Assistance: The Ministry has been directed to extend all necessary technical and logistical support to the Bihar government.
Ongoing Monitoring: The Health Minister is personally monitoring the situation in the affected districts and plans to visit Bihar in the near future to review AES management and the implementation of central health schemes.
