Bihar govt ramps up health services amid rise in AES cases

The state health headquarters has asked its lower formations, including civil surgeons, to ensure availability of medicines, doctors and ambulances at all health facilities in the 12 districts, where as many as 34 cases and one death due to acute encephalitis syndrome (AES), a disease that affects the brain of children, have been reported so far this year, said officials on Friday.

- Ruchir Kumar

PATNA:

Pratyaya Amrit, Bihar's additional chief secretary (health) and development commissioner, who on Thursday reviewed the department's preparedness to combat AES before peak summer, directed the doctors to mark their attendance on time through the Darpan app, which allows to capture an employee's photograph and coordinates (longitude and latitude) of the location.

Doctors in peripheries, including community health centres, primary health centres, sub-divisional hospitals and district hospitals, have been directed to mark their attendance on the Darpan app between 4am and 6am, failing which strict action will be taken. AES cases, accompanied with high fever, rigor and delirium, are reported in children mostly in the wee hours.

Amrit asked officials to ensure that there was no delay in transportation of patients to the nearest health facility, and ambulance should be mapped with every health facility.