Azad in UP’s encephalitis epicentre

Sources said Azad was asked to visit the encephalitis-hit region by AICC General Secretary Rahul Gandhi,looking for a solution to encephalitis problem.

Earlier,on Tuesday,the Bharatiya Janata Party leaders and Yogi Adityanath had taken out a march from the medical college up to the Commissioner’s office,demanding better facilities for encephalitis patients.

Reaching the BRD Medical College at around 4.30 pm,Azad visited the encephalitis ward number 12,which was cleaned for his visit a few hours earlier.

As most of the beds in the ward were occupied by at least two patients,Azad inquired about the scarcity of beds. Dr KP Khushwaha,head of the Paediatrics Department,told him that because of more number of AES cases,the bed occupancy was high. To his another query,he was told the hospital had adequate supply of medicines.

Azad was defensive when one of the attendants of a patient questioned him about the lack of facilities at the hospital.

While talking to media,Azad said he has,at least a one-and-a half dozen times in the past two years,sent teams of medical experts and doctors from Indian Council of Medical Research as well as senior officials of medical and health from the government of India to visit the hospital and assess the situation. He said he will visit the rural areas in Siddhartha Nagar on Friday.

Azad also held a meeting with the state government officials including Director General (Medical) Health and Family Welfare Dr Ramji Lal and Director General (Medical Education) Dr Saudan Singh.

“In the meeting,he mainly tried to understand the problem of encephalitis in the area,” Dr Khushwaha told The Indian Express after the meeting.