Pinki Kumari, the first Japanese encephalitis patient. Picture by Suman

Gaya, April 27: The health department has initiated steps to chalk out an effective strategy to battle Japanese encephalitis in the state.

As a part of the plan, a high-level inter-departmental meeting was held at Anugrah Narayan Medical College and Hospital (ANMCH) yesterday on principal secretary, health, Amarjeet Sinha’s direction.

ANMCH superintendent Sitaram Prasad told The Telegraph: “The stress in the meeting was on ensuring immunisation of children against the viral disease through routine programme. The need for a mass immunisation drive was also felt.”

A request will be sent to the government to make Japanese encephalitis vaccines available to carry out a mass immunisation of children. According to the strategy, an awareness programme has to be launched in the villages regarding causes, prevention and treatment of the viral disease and others under acute encephalitis syndrome (AES).

District magistrate Bandana Preyashi, who presided over the meeting, issued directions to complete the training at the village-level by the first week of May. “The training programme will be followed by a vaccination and nutrition drive in the villages,” she said.

Head of department, paediatrics, ANMCH, Ajoy Kishore Ravi said: “The Centre has sanctioned around Rs 3,355 crore to fight Japanese encephalitis and AES. Ten medical colleges, including ANMCH and Sri Krishna Medical College and Hospital, have been identified as nodal as well as sentinel centres for controlling the diseases.”