The bitter reality is that while we pat ourselves on the back for being one of the fastest growing economies of the world that has taken giant strides in science and even carved a niche for itself in the global corporate world, what eclipses these achievements are our dismal social parameters, especially our health indices. Exemplifying this fact is that no remedial measures have been adopted despite Japanese Encephalitis claiming more than 10,000 lives in Uttar Pradesh between 1978 and 2005. This abject apathy towards life is inexcusable (Editorial – “ Wages of neglect ”, August 14).
Though the Centre has cleared the long-awaited National Health Policy 2017 which promises health-care services to all Indian citizens, particularly the underprivileged, the figure of 2.5% of GDP spending is still a paltry sum and inadequate to meet the requirements of a country such as India. Augmenting investment in public health care with appropriate utilisation management is pivotal to sustaining India’s growth. In lieu of focussing on issues such as ‘Gau Rakshak’, the need is for Centre and States to focus on ‘Shishu Rakshak’. Remedial measures such as mosquito eradication while simultaneously embarking on a vaccination drive will help matters.
Nalini Vijayaraghavan,
Thiruvananthapuram
It has become a dubious norm for all the Opposition parties, without exception, to fish in troubled waters in times of crisis. How many among the Opposition could have looked into the welfare of affected children before they lost their lives or had a word of solace for their parents? In contrast, when a calamity strikes in the West, the Opposition works in tandem with the government and ensures that succour is extended to the needy. We need to be more humane and civil when catastrophes strike.
Pushpa Saran,
Chennai
The death of many children in a place which has elected the Chief Minister of a State speaks volumes of how insensitive and callous politicians, bureaucrats, ministers and doctors have become in their attitude towards the most vulnerable in society. It was a historic moment when Railway Minister Lal Bahadur Sastri resigned owning moral responsibility for a train accident at Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu in November 1956.
The Prime Minister’s exhortation of Swachh Bharat has fallen on deaf ears. In all this, one is reminded of the Camus novel, The Plague . In Tamil Nadu, the situation is not different. Dengue fever has been raising its ugly head while the State’s politicians are fully engaged in their internecine quarrels.
M. Vathapureeswaran,
Madurai
The strenuous denials of a disruption in oxygen supply being the cause of death appears to be a Machiavellian move to arrest moves to dent the image of the fledgling government in the State. No doubt, oxygen supply is crucial for maintaining the vital parameters of encephalitis patients as long as possible, but it is impossible to believe that so many children passed away in a short duration unless there was a catastrophe. What was it?
P. Vijayachandran,
Thiruvananthapuram
Poor sanitation, pathetic health-care systems, inadequate public awareness campaigns and apathy of the government and the municipality is what results in the spread of the tropical diseases every year. The stakeholders concerned must also stop adding political colour to the tragedy and acknowledge their administrative failure instead. Ensuring the adoption of proper sanitation measures through public awareness campaign, scientific waste management techniques, penalty for offenders responsible for water stagnation, regular fumigation and constant monitoring at all hospitals, public or private, should be the priority of the government. The Swachh Bharat Abhiyan programme needs to complement these efforts.
Shreyans Jain,
New Delhi
