Nadda reviews health situation in Uttar Pradesh

New Delhi, Feb 20 (IANS) Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda Friday discussed with the Uttar Pradesh government measures to contain cases of Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) and Japanese Encephalitis (JE) in the state.

Nadda met Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in Lucknow to discuss issues and programmes concerning these diseases as well as the swine flu situation in the state, an official release here said.

Issues related to AES and JE, which are endemic in eastern parts of Uttar Pradesh, particularly in districts of Gorakhpur, Siddarthnagar, Basti, Khushi Nagar and Maharajganj, were taken up during the meeting.

The union minister informed Yadav that the central government is implementing a national programme for prevention and control of AES and JE in five states in 60 highly endemic districts, of which 20 districts are in Uttar Pradesh.

Inter-departmental coordination, monthly review by the district magistrates, quarterly review by the chief secretary, and using forum of public representatives to spread the message of consuming boiled drinking water and use of JE vaccine under routine immunisation programme were stressed during the meeting.

He also apprised the state government about "Mission Indradhanush" of the central government.

The mission depicting seven colours of the rainbow, aims to cover all those children who are either not vaccinated, or are partially vaccinated against seven vaccine preventable diseases -- diphtheria, whooping cough, tetanus, polio, tuberculosis, measles and hepatitis B -- by 2019.

Meanwhile, on H1N1 situation, the state government assured that necessary steps have been taken and stock of medicines, testing facilities and masks were in adequate quantity.