As deadly encephalitis killing children seems to be unstoppable, On Tuesday Bihar Chief Minister along with his deputy Sushil Modi paid visit to Shri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH), Muzaffarpur. Nitish Kumar faced angry protests from the parents and attendants of children undergoing treatment at the hospital.
Nitish had to face wrath of angry protestors over the outbreak of encephalitis which took death toll to 113 with more than 300 children under treatment. Protestors raised ‘Nitish Kumar wapas jao’ ‘Nitish Kumar Go Back’ slogans with waving of black flags because his arrival was too late. Nitish Kumar ignored briefing to media persons.
Despite protests and public anger, the CM and his deputy visited PICU wards in which children were undergoing treatment and assured them unconditional assistance from government to save their lives.
Since three weeks, SKMCH is in headlines because of death of hundreds’ of children due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). Nitish Kumar during his visit directed health officials to undertake following actions-
- Arrangement of at least 1500 bed in SKMCH hospital in first phase of upgradation and then to 2500 bed hospital;
- Study on environmental factors of the affected areas;
- Counter plan to tackle disease after studying the socio-economic background of AES victims;
- No shortage of drinking water with doctors availability in high numbers;
- Witnessing improper sanitation and water drainage at the SKMCH, the Chief Minister also ordered water drainage plan with immediate removal of medical wastes kept in open;
- Packets of ORS (Oral Rehydration Solution) to be distributed in affected regions with assistance of ASHA workers;
- Decision of roping in experts from Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH) and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital (
DMCH) was taken.
Chief secretary Deepak Kumar said the CM had ordered an awareness drive, regular health bulletins to rural areas and that the 600-bed SKMCH be upgraded to 2,500 beds. “The CM and his team went to almost every bed and enquired the patients’. He also ordered SKMCH Dr. Sunil Shahi to release medical bulletin on day to day basis about ongoing situation.
CM asked health officials to establish a 100-bed special paediatric intensive care unit (ICU) at the SKMCH in next one year to deal with children-related disease, added Deepak Kumar.
Additionally he also admitted that the government is unsure and unclear about exact reason behind such an outbreak.
According to official report, the outbreak intensity seems to have affected the neighbouring districts of Muzaffarpur with 57 cases altogether from East Champaran, 19 from Sitamarhi and 16 from Vaishali have come to SKMCH and KMS, private hospital.
