Gorakhpur: Till three years ago, the encephalitis ward at Gorakhpur BRD medical college used to be over crowded with three to four children on a single bed, but now most are empty as both cases and casualties have dipped massively in the region due to the focused approach of Yogi Adityanath government.
Notably, encephalitis deaths have declined 95% this year even amid Covid-19 pandemic and the disease will be eradicated at this rate.
Encephalitis caused numerous deaths in east UP since the last four decades but it is now obvious that previous governments paid no heed and never took action as the menace is now controlled in just three years.
The first encephalitis case was reported in East UP in 1978. Till 2017, the deadly disease claimed the lives of more than 50,000 children and left a similar number suffering with physical and mental disabilities.
Yogi made encephalitis eradication the top agenda on becoming chief minister and launched Dastak Campaign for spreading awareness by involving health workers and teachers. Vaccination started, potable water supply reached villages and open defecation ended with Swachh Bharat Mission.
Yogi also focused on strengthening the health care system and CHCs, PHCs were turned into encephalitis treatment centres so that patients get treatment in villages instead of rushing to cities and losing life due to time lag.
Gorakhpur has 23 encephalitis treatment centres, including 9 CHCs and 13 PHCs.
Mini Paediatric Intensive Care Units (PICU) were set up at Chauri Chaura, Gagha and Piprauli CHCs where three pediatricians, four nurses, technician, pharmacist and other staff were provided besides beds, medicines, oxygen and ventilators. Two beds at PHCs and six at CHCs were reserved for encephalitis patients.
The results have been excellent and encephalitis has been halted.
Facilities at BRD medical college were also upgraded and beds in high dependency unit increased from 6 to 60, ventilators doubled to 120, warmers for newborns increased by nearly 300% to 40 and beds in the pediatric ward increased from 154 to 500.
As facilities were upgraded at CHCs and PHCs in districts, the number of patients coming to BRD medical college also came down.
Senior pediatrician and chief campaigner of encephalitis eradication drive, Dr R N Singh says other states should adopt UP model to control encephalitis.
“Yogi ji fought the battle for two decades and has managed to control encephalitis menace,” he said.