UNICEF applauds #YogiSarkar for immunizing every child through ‘DASTAK’ campaign

Lucknow, May 7: India’s role in creating awareness among the masses about sanitation and hygiene safety has been known to all. But do people know about Uttar Pradesh’s efforts in creating awareness about health safety among its masses? Yes, elongating a helping hand, the CM Yogi Adityanath led BJP government has immunized each and every kid less than 15 years of age against the Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome. In this regard UNICEF has also lauded the UP government for their great initiative.

In February 2017, the UP government launched “Dastak Campaign against Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES)” with an aim to immunize every child under 15 years of age and carry out widespread sanitation and awareness programmes.

The UNICEF in a tweet said, “A big shout out to UttarPradesh for immunizing every child in the state against Japanese Encephalitis and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome under the Dastak campaign!”

The campaign was planned as a programme to educate and provide facilities to the families, not only for vaccination but also for prevention and treatment of the disease. Health workers, teachers and Asha workers visited door to door and carrying out vaccination and awareness drives in the schools and localities.

 

As part of the campaign, the whole state machinery with help of UNICEF went door to door in 38 JES (Japanese Encephalitis) and AE (Acute Encephalitis syndrome) affected districts, mostly falling in the Tarai region of the state which contributes to about 60% of total AES cases all over the country. State departments including health, rural development, primary education work together to spread awareness about the disease through mass media, initiate sanitation drive and ensure timely vaccination.

On April 2, Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath had flagged off a programme in Pipraich to eradicate Japanese Encephalitis. The programme, which included vaccination drive against Encephalitis and cleanliness drive, concluded on April 16. Yogi Adityanath had said that Eastern Uttar Pradesh and 38 districts are majorly affected from Encephalitis, and hence the government will conduct vaccination drive against Japanese Encephalitis, and cleanliness drive and provision of pure water for prevention from acute encephalitis syndrome.

Under the programme, adequate medical care was ensured, along with imparting training to paramedical staff and paediatrics. Yogi Adityanath had then said that the programme will be successful in eradicating Encephalitis from the state, and especially the 38 districts.

What is Japanese encephalitis?

Japanese encephalitis (JE) is a serious infection caused by the Japanese encephalitis virus. It occurs mainly in rural parts of Asia and spreads through the bite of an infected mosquito. It is higher for people living in areas where the disease is common, or for people travelling there for long periods of time.Most people infected with JE have symptoms such as fever and headache, or as serious as encephalitis (brain infection). A person with encephalitis can experience fever, neck stiffness, seizures, and coma.