Slamming the Bihar state government over death of 24 children in Muzaffarpur from Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), Union Minister of State for Rural Development Upendra Kushwaha today said it was due to the "slothful attitude" and "poor governance".
"The disease emerged in 1994 and has been killing dozens of children every summer since then. This shows the slothful attitude and poor governance of the Bihar government," said Kushwaha while talking to reporters.
He said he would take up the matter with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and discuss on central assistance in countering AES.
"I will ensure that whatever role the Centre can play in the alarming situation, is implemented," the Minister said.
Kushwaha accused the Bihar government of showing irresponsibility in making efforts to contain the disease.
Kushwaha was on his maiden visit to the state after becoming an Union Minister and went to Muzaffarpur to take stock of the spread of AES.
"There is severe scarcity of facilities at Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH). Posts of doctors and other staff at the hospital have not been increased for decades and many are lying vacant. The number of beds is miniscule and patients cannot even get clean drinking water," he said, adding that the state government should immediately provide better treatment facilities to AES patients.
AES usually affects children below the age of six years. The symptoms vary from high fever, body ache, stiffness of limbs to meningitis and coma. Malnourished kids are affected more by it and the mortality rates are very high.
Doctors and researchers have so far been unable to isolate the virus which causes the disease.
