BHUBANESWAR: Union Minister of State for Petroleum and Natural Gas Dharmendra Pradhan today met Union Health and Family Welfare Minister JP Nadda in New Delhi and sought the Health ministry's support in combating the spread of deadly Japanese Encephalitis in the state.
Pradhan apprised Nadda about the situation in the tribal-dominated Malkangiri district where the vector borne disease has taken lives of 38 children so far.
"I requested the Union Health Minister to send a high level fact finding team to investigate the casuses of the outbreak of the disease and also advise remedial measures for controlling the mosquito borne disease," Pradhan told reporters after the meeting.
Pradhan has also written to Nadda requesting all possible support for identifying the disease and combating the spread of the diseases to other districts.
Stating that the disease has already assumed epidemic proportions with three-four children dying every day, Pradhan told Nadda that the situation is getting out of control.
Meanwhile, the National Human Rights Commission has issued notices to the district and state authorities seeking detailed reports including the steps taken by them to control the disease and the rising deaths of children.
Assuring all possible assistance to the state government, Nadda told reporters that he will consider Pradhan's request for sending a central expert team to Odisha.
"I have been monitoring the situation and I am in constant touch with the Odisha government. I have requested the state government to rush whatever facilities available with them to the affected areas to contain the death of children," Nadda said.
Besides, the Union Health Secretary is in regular touch with the State Health Secretary, he added.
A six-member team of the state BJP led by Bhrugu Baxipatra will visit the affected villages in Malkangiri district on Friday to take stock of the situation and the steps taken by the State Government to contain the epidemic. The team will submit a report on the findings and submit it to both the State Government and the Centre.
The team members include Radharani Panda, MLA, former minister Pradipta Nayak and Shiva Shankar Ulaka.