Anti-JE drive: Doubts cast over figures

THE FIGURES issued by the district and health officials regarding the immunisation drive against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) have kicked off a new debate among city dwellers. Doubts have been raised over the success of the programme. The district administration has claimed 6 lakh children between 1 and 15 years of age were immunised in four districts of the division from May 15 to 17.

THE FIGURES issued by the district and health officials regarding the immunisation drive against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) have kicked off a new debate among city dwellers. Doubts have been raised over the success of the programme. The district administration has claimed 6  lakh children between 1 and 15 years of age were immunised in four districts of the division from May 15 to 17.

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According to district administration, 2.90 lakh children were immunised on May 16 and 3.06 lakh children on May 17.

Assistant commissioner, Immunisation, Jaswant Singh said that 5.60 lakh children in rural areas of the division were immunised, while 36,000 children in urban areas were vaccinated. Health officials have been directed to wear proper dress during the drive.

Raising doubts over the success of the drive, Congress leader Diwaker Singh said 749 teams had been deployed in the district and each team had been instructed to immunise 125 children per day. He said that according to a senior health officer, a team could immunise only 150 children if it worked at full capacity. In all, only 1.10 lakh children per day could be immunised.

In rural areas, people were not fetching up at the booths and the centres due to lack of proper publicity. Therefore, the figures issued by the district administration were not credible, he said. 

The district administration has issued a notice that children suffering from fever, or any other disease will not be immunised. Divisional commissioner Dr Moolchand Yadav has directed officials to ensure success of the drive at any cost. He said proper participation of people should be sought in the drive.  Meanwhile, All Indian Congress Committee member Dr Syed Jamal said the credit for the mass anti-JE vaccination went to Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and the UPA Government at the Centre. He warned the party would launch a massive movement against the government and officials if wrong figures were given.