Bihar child deaths: Vardhan explains how Centre's intervention improved situation

“A round the clock point-of-care testing facility set up," said Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Harsh Vardhan, has claimed that Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome (AES) mortality rate is "significantly" reduced since Centre's intervention in Bihar after dozens of children died due to AES. "The strategic interventions made by the Health Ministry have started paying off and are showing positive results as the mortality rate has come down significantly," Vardhan said according to a press release issued by the Indian government over child deaths in Bihar.

The death toll due to AES epidemic, however, reached 131 in Muzaffarpur with one more death reported on Tuesday morning.

The release further stated that continues to review the status of AES cases of Bihar with senior officers of the Health Ministry and in the past forty-eight hours there have been only five AES-related admissions at SKMCH, Muzaffarpur.

Vardhan further said that a round the clock point-of-care testing facility has been set up in SKMCH to monitor vital parameters such as blood gases, electrolytes, lactate etc, of the children. "This facility is being further strengthened by deployment of biochemist and technicians from the Central Government Hospitals in Delhi," he added.

Vardhan further elaborated that the diagnostics have been strengthened in the PICU. It will have a portable X-ray with CR digital to access the report immediately within the ICU. The CSF reports in PICU has also been operationalised. Portable USG and ECHO set up for PICU are also fully functional round the clock.

The Union Health Minister further said that the fifteen member Central Team of doctors and paramedics providing medical care will be replaced by a team with similar strength for further ten days ensuring continuity of care of admitted cases. It will oversee and support the State government efforts for management of AES cases at SKMCH.

Vardhan said that the multi-disciplinary team deployed by the Department of Health Research will continue to work on varied aspects of research concerning Acute Encephalopathy Syndrome (AES).