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Resource centre on India's rural distress
 
 

Gorakhpur doctor on yatra for awareness on encephalitis

-Express News Service
 
At a time parties are busy holding “yatras” to seek votes in the coming Assembly election, Gorakhpur doctor R N Singh began a “yatra” of a different kind in eastern UP on Monday to spread awareness about preventive measures against encephalitis and mobilise public opinion for making it an election issue.

Dr Singh has been working for eradication of encephalitis — which kills hundreds of children every year - for a long time. He deliberately chose Children’s Day to launch his yatra with the slogan “save child, save nation”.

The week-long yatra, which will traverse six worst-affected districts, was flagged-off by his grand-daughter Lavanya. It will cover 400 km, passing though Gorakhpur, Kushinagar, Sidharthanagar, Mahrajganj, Sant Kabir Nagar and Basti districts.

Besides creating awareness about preventive measures, Dr Singh will distribute a questionnaire, requesting villagers to ask the questions in it to all those who visit them to seek votes. Some of the points in the questionnaire are: whether encephalitis eradication is on the agenda of the candidate or his party; has the candidate or his party ever raised the issue of encephalitis eradication at the local, state or national level in the past; will you take steps for eradication of encephalitis after being elected; do you feel there is need for a national encephalitis eradication programme.

Dr Singh said, “Because elections are due in UP, parties have suddenly started talking about eradication in the state. But encephalitis is not only UP’s problem, other states like West Bengal and Assam are also suffering. Nor will forming a GoM help children. Even sanctioning of funds is not enough. There is need for proper planning for preventive measures, which can stop these deaths.”

Despite the central and state government’s claims to have taken initiatives for encephalitis eradication, over 500 children have already succumbed to the disease in eastern UP alone this year.

“Along with the set of questions for politicians, we are distributing pamphlets about small measures that can be taken at the village level such as purifying water with sun rays and ensuring hygienic conditions in the neighbourhood,” said Dr Singh.

The yatra will conclude at Holia village in Kushinagar.