NCPCR may call UP Health Secy on Encephalitis deaths



New Delhi: In the wake of nearly 500 children succumbing to Japanese Encephalitis in eastern Uttar Pradesh this year, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) has said it may summon its Health Secretary if the state government does not submit a report soon.

NCPCR had taken a suo-motu cognisance of reports in this regard and issued a notice to UP government asking it to submit a detailed report, NCPCR Member Secretary Luv Sharma said here.

"We had issued a notice to UP government on October 8 asking them to provide us details of the deaths. We have not received any reply from the state Government. Now we have decided to issued them a reminder and I will also talk to the Health Secretary there," he said.

Nearly 500 children have died in Eastern UP because of Japanese Encephalitis. It is a serious issue and we want a official report from the state government on this, Sharma said.

Hoping that the UP government will take the reminder seriously, he said the Commission may decide to summon the Health Secretary if the state fails to provide them the necessary details.

"Japanese Encephalitis is a major disease and it needs concerted efforts of all the responsible agencies. We are also planning to consult other state governments in this regard," Sharma said.

Over the years, eastern UP has been the epicentre of Japanese Encephalitis in the country and the measures taken by the state government have been of little help.

Recently, Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad during his visit to the affected areas had ordered setting up of a central coordination committee to deal with the problem.

PTI