AES deaths due to administrative failure, state apathy: Report

This year 154 children have lost their lives in Muzaffarpur to an encephalopathy of unknown origin says a report of a doctors forum on Friday which has blamed these deaths on administrative failure and states apathyIn the preliminary report of Progressive Medicos and Scientists Forum PMSF a few unfamiliar facts and causes have been listed regarding the influx of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome AESaffected patients in Muzaffarpur this year even as various experts are trying to pinpoint the etiology behind this convulsive illness and related deathsWe doctors from AIIMS New Delhi as part of PMSF on investigating this disaster come to a conclusion that whatever be the specific etiology these children are killed by administrative failure and states apathy towards people a press release by PMSF saidThe PMSF report said that all deaths occurred in children aged 15 12 years exclusively belonging to families of lower socioeconomic strata Temporally the cases peak in summer months of MayJune while geographically they are clustered in thatchedroof huts of MuzaffarpurAmong the other points put forward in the report areMost people did not have access to the public distribution system as they do not have ration cards Many children were malnourished and none had been treated for it none of them had growth monitoring cards Hospital wards and ICUs are not well equipped to cater to the patients coming to the medical collegeIn the nearest medical college SKMCH emergency room catering to 500 patients per day is manned by just 4 doctors and 3 nurses there is no triage mechanism to sort patientsMuzaffarpur is reeling under a severe paucity of drinking water and there is no functional sewerage system in the city Extremely poor sanitation conditions and health care facilities have added to the plight of patientsAfter witnessing AES symptoms in children family members took them to the health facility on their own with a deadly delay with little help from local health officialsThese deaths from illness are being witnessed since10 years still there are is no preventive mechanism and health awareness for specific illnesses or for any common illnesses like diarrheaASHA subcentres and anganwari services are deficient in their numbers and functions people have lost faith in the local health system Children in none of the affected areas were immunized for the Japanese Encephalitis Virus JRV vaccineNearest primary health center and community health center are abysmally dysfunctional in terms of resources and manpower as compared to the national health standardsIt has been noted in some cases that after treating hypoglycemia children were discharged in a few hours and they died at home due to developing hypoglycemiaDespite faults at different levels no action has been taken against any official Rather a senior resident was suspended which apparently inappropriate action and would be bedeemed as scapegoating in an attempt to slide the gross negligence under the carpetLooking at these points this kind of disaster is always waiting to happen in this area The government is trying to hide its apathy towards people behind the jargon of etiological research of a mysterious disease stated the press releaseThe detailed investigation report will be released soon regarding the sameCatch up on all the latest Crime National International and Hatke news here Also download the new midday Android and iOS apps to get the latest updates