Click to play videoNew Delhi: The encephalitis virus has killed more than 500 in just the last 2 months in Uttar Pradesh. The political class is finally waking up to the epidemic after a series of CNN-IBN ground reports.
Union Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad on Saturday promised to take up the matter with the Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and Congress President Sonia Gandhi.
"I will soon meet the Prime Minister and the Congress President with a proposal," Azad told CNN-IBN.
Nine more children have died of encephalitis in Uttar Pradesh in 48 hours, taking the toll close to 500 in the last four months alone.
Azad also said the health ministry will team up with key ministries - like water resources and Women and Child Welfare, to tackle civic issues on the ground.
"This is a serious issue. Resources will have to be pooled. This disease will spread if a long term or medium term program is not made," added Azad.
Meanwhile, the centre is trying to pass the buck on to the state claimed the UP government failed to provide utilization certificates for funds given to them in the last two years.
Congress MP from Kushinagar RPN Singh said, "He state government has to hire doctors. We can't hire doctors for them. The state government's focus is on elections and not on what is happening to the people of UP,"
Congress General Secretary Digvijaya Singh who accompanied Ghulam Nabi Azad on twitter said, "Had gone to Gorakhpur with Health Minister to see the Encephalitis patients. Pathetic. Can be eradicated by prevention than the cure."
With UP headed to polls in 2012, crucial health issues like encephalitis can no longer be ignored by the state and the centre. The people of Gorakhpur are hoping the government acts on eradicating the disease rather than making it an election issue.
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