UNICEF To Help In UP Encephalitis Eradication

The United Nations Children's Fund - UNICEF will help in eradication of various forms of encephalitis that claim hundreds of life in eastern Uttar Pradesh every year. A team headed by the UNICEF’s State Coordinator Vakeel Ahmad visited the affected area to take stock of the situation. Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad also visited the affected areas in Gorakhpur and Basti divisions and announced that the Centre will adopt a multi-pronged strategy to tackle the disease.

The medical experts have identified two types of encephalitis in the region. One is Japanese Encephalitis which is caused by the mosquito bite. Another type is caused by the contaminated water. The experts claim that JE has been tamed to certain extent due to repeated vaccination in the area.

The water-borne encephalitis needs a multi-pronged approach to control it. Sanitation and purification of drinking water sources is core issue that needs to be talked. UNICEF has now taken up the task of educating the people about hygiene and importance of clean drinking water. The death toll due to encephalitis has crossed 500 mark this year and 90% of the cases are caused by the contaminated water. There are several centrally sponsored schemes like Total Sanitation, Swajal Dhara and Rajiv Gandhi Drinking water Mission that are meant for sanitation and safe drinking water. The need of the hour is to pool resources from these schemes and to provide a clean and healthy environment in the encephalitis affected areas of eastern UP.