Muzaffarpur Chief Judicial Magistrate, Suryakant Tiwari on Monday ordered investigation against Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan and Bihar Health Minister Mangal Pandey, in a case of negligence registered against them, in connection with deaths of children in Muzaffarpur due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
So far more than 130 children have lost their lives due to AES in Muzaffarpur.
Social activist Tamanna Hashmi had last week filed the case in the Muzaffarpur Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) court against the ministers of having failed in their duties
On Sunday, people took out a protest march against the government’s alleged apathy in tackling AES in the district.
Dr Harsh Vardhan had visited the state-owned Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital (SKMCH) in Muzaffarpur on June 16.
“The central and state teams have finalized the site and design of 100 bedded PICU at Muzaffarpur, which will be supported under a centrally sponsored scheme.” Dr Harsh Vardhan stated this after reviewing the status of AES cases of Bihar with senior officers of the health Ministry.
The Health Minister had said that the multi-disciplinary central team has been camping at Muzaffarpur for over a week now. “With the support of state and district administration, efforts of social and behavior change at the community level and early identification and management at primary health care facilities have been strengthened,” he mentioned.
