Acute crisis: AES deaths in Bihar expose cracks in health machinery

Last year, 816 cases of acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), including 34 deaths, were reported till August 20, he said. (Representational)

The Indian Express visited three Primary Health Centres in the worst affected blocks of Mushahari, Minapur and Kanti. But one thing was common- these health centres face a crippling shortage of both medical and non-medical staff. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)

The SC Monday directed the Centre and Bihar government to file an affidavit within 7 days giving details of facilities dealing with public health, nutrition and sanitation, for treatment of children suffering from AES in Muzaffarpur. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)

While doctors have identified malnutrition and low sugar levels as a common thread among all AES patients, the state of the district’s PHCs and CHCs make the battle against AES doubly harder. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)

The Community Health Centre in Kanti has just four doctors against a sanctioned strength of seven for about 3.8 lakh people. There is no regular nurse and sespite that there have been no appointments to the seven contractual posts of nurses either. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)

The AES outbreak has affected about 20 out of the 40 districts in the state and has afflicted more than 600 children since June 1. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)

Rajesh Sahni, who lost her daughter by AES, holds her daughter's school book outside of her temporary shelter in Harvanshpur village, Vaishali District, about 35 kms from Muzaffarpur in Bihar. (Express photo: Ritesh Shukla)