NEW DELHI: India will announce a national programme to the tune of nearly Rs 2,000 crore to combat Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) in the upcoming Union budget.
The programme finalized by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who
heads a group of ministers (GoM) on JE, has been circulated to other members that include ministers Jairam Ramesh, Krishna Tirath and Mukul Vasnik.
Once approved in the GoM's final meeting on December 27, it will be sent to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for a final approval before being placed before the Cabinet.
The health ministry would require about Rs 1,600 crore for the national programme over the five-year period.
"The budget will for the first time announce a separate allocation for the targeted intervention for JE and AES," an official told TOI. Initially, the drive will be rolled out in 60 districts in five states - West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Assam, and would include expansion of JE vaccination in 62 new districts, establishment of ICUs in 60 priority districts and would be a multi-pronged strategy to include safe water, sanitation, nutrition, community education, medical attention and rehabilitation.
Shallow hand pumps will be replaced by deep bore hand pumps in AES-affected districts, while the most undernourished children will be identified and provided higher nutrition to fight the virus.
Around 10 medical colleges in these five states are also being identified that will house physical and medical rehabilitation units for JE/AES patients. JE and AES have been reported from 135 districts in 17 states.
"The ministry initiated JE vaccination programme for children between one and 15 years as an integral component of universal immunization programme. It has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 5.88 crore for upgrade of JE epidemic ward at BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur - one of the worst affected areas," an official added.
Another official said, "The GoM has met thrice till now and finalized the provisions of this national programme. Azad has circulated the plan among the other members of the GoM for final approval. We expect to roll it out early next year."
The ministry will strengthen JE vaccination, improve case management capability at district hospitals and medical colleges, including medical rehabilitation and strengthen physical medicine.
Sources said in the first phase, the ministry of social justice will set up 20 new rehabilitation centers to deal with disability caused by JE/AES. Around 28 such centres are in place. All children, aged between one and 15, will be vaccinated against JE, besides training doctors to identify early signs of JE/AES.
Plans are also in place to provide fixed monthly compensation to families below poverty line having children with disability due to JE. However, this will not be done in the first phase.
JE/AES is a major public health challenge, and mostly children below 15 years are affected. About 25% of affected children die and, among survivors about 30%-40% suffer from physical and mental impairment.
This year, 861 deaths have been reported so far, and 70%-75% of the disease burden is in Uttar Pradesh.
The programme finalized by Union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad, who
heads a group of ministers (GoM) on JE, has been circulated to other members that include ministers Jairam Ramesh, Krishna Tirath and Mukul Vasnik.
Once approved in the GoM's final meeting on December 27, it will be sent to Prime Minister Dr Manmohan Singh for a final approval before being placed before the Cabinet.
The health ministry would require about Rs 1,600 crore for the national programme over the five-year period.
"The budget will for the first time announce a separate allocation for the targeted intervention for JE and AES," an official told TOI. Initially, the drive will be rolled out in 60 districts in five states - West Bengal, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Assam, and would include expansion of JE vaccination in 62 new districts, establishment of ICUs in 60 priority districts and would be a multi-pronged strategy to include safe water, sanitation, nutrition, community education, medical attention and rehabilitation.
Shallow hand pumps will be replaced by deep bore hand pumps in AES-affected districts, while the most undernourished children will be identified and provided higher nutrition to fight the virus.
Around 10 medical colleges in these five states are also being identified that will house physical and medical rehabilitation units for JE/AES patients. JE and AES have been reported from 135 districts in 17 states.
"The ministry initiated JE vaccination programme for children between one and 15 years as an integral component of universal immunization programme. It has sanctioned an additional amount of Rs 5.88 crore for upgrade of JE epidemic ward at BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur - one of the worst affected areas," an official added.
Another official said, "The GoM has met thrice till now and finalized the provisions of this national programme. Azad has circulated the plan among the other members of the GoM for final approval. We expect to roll it out early next year."
The ministry will strengthen JE vaccination, improve case management capability at district hospitals and medical colleges, including medical rehabilitation and strengthen physical medicine.
Sources said in the first phase, the ministry of social justice will set up 20 new rehabilitation centers to deal with disability caused by JE/AES. Around 28 such centres are in place. All children, aged between one and 15, will be vaccinated against JE, besides training doctors to identify early signs of JE/AES.
Plans are also in place to provide fixed monthly compensation to families below poverty line having children with disability due to JE. However, this will not be done in the first phase.
JE/AES is a major public health challenge, and mostly children below 15 years are affected. About 25% of affected children die and, among survivors about 30%-40% suffer from physical and mental impairment.
This year, 861 deaths have been reported so far, and 70%-75% of the disease burden is in Uttar Pradesh.
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