UP CM seeks doctors' help in spreading awareness to curb encephalitis

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath today sought the help of medical fraternity in spreading awareness about various preventive measures to curb encephalitis in rural areas.

The Chief Minister made the appeal to the doctors while inaugurating and laying foundation stones for a slew of completed and new projects worth nearly Rs 75 crore in Baba Raghav Das Medical College here.

Adityanath asked the doctors to hold at least two 'chaupals' for over four hours per week in rural areas to spread the awareness about various preventive measures against encephalitis.

"When I see the last 40 years' data on encephalitis deaths, I feel very sad. We need to understand that prevention is the most important measure in combating encephalitis," said the Chief Minister.

"Be sensitive towards providing facilities to patients. A doctor is not honest if he is not doing so. I appeal to the media and the intellectuals to encourage the good work of the medical college," he added.

Taking a dig at previous governments' "slow pace" in developing medical infrastructure in the state, Adityanath said, "Only 13 medical colleges were made from 1947 to 2014 in Uttar Pradesh, besides an incomplete one at Rai Bareli."
"Today 25 to 50 per cent physical developments could be seen at all those medical colleges and, within a month, we will lay the foundation stone for a Common Rehabilitation Centre (CRC) and a Regional Virology Centre (RVC) here."
Pointing out that the BRD Medical College, Gorakhpur caters to the medicare needs of not only eastern Uttar Pradesh, but also those of western Bihar and 'terai' region of Nepal, the Chief Minister said, "I remember the condition here over a year ago but the changes could be easily seen now."