Visit of doctors from national institutions to worst-affected regions recommended Even as New Delhi grappled with the increasing incidence of Japanese encephalitis — a disease reported for the first time — the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has recommended that Japanese encephalitis vaccination be included in the national immunisation programme and an eradication programme launched nationwide against Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome. A team of the child rights panel, headed by commission member Yogesh Dube, visited Gorakhpur, Kushinagar and Deoria districts in Uttar Pradesh, the worst-affected by Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome, and suggested that a team of doctors from national institutions like the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) visit the areas to deal with the situation. The disease has killed more than 600 children and disabled an equal number this season. In its report, the panel has said all primary health centres and community health centres must be strengthened to provide immediate medical assistance to patients. The district hospitals must be developed as the super-specialised hospitals to treat the cases of Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome, and a high-tech virology laboratory must be set up. It wants a team of expert doctors from the AIIMS and other national institutions sent out for screening patients, so that clear identifications could be spotted as soon as possible, and doctors from other medical colleges should work in rotation in the affected areas for a short period of time to offer patients their services and train doctors already working there. It has also recommended that a survey be done to find out the number of persons disabled by Japanese Encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome and a proper rehabilitation plan worked out. Special attention must be paid to children suffering from malnutrition, and paediatric ventilators and other machines made available to all district hospitals, which must be furnished with a well-equipped, 25-bed ward for patients afflicted with Japanese Encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome. The panel has suggested that a joint committee be set up at the divisional level to deal with the situation. Led by the Divisional Commissioner, it should have representation from the Panchayati Raj institutions and the Social Welfare, Women and Child Development, Health, Public Health and Engineering, Rural Development and Education Departments. It should also include a civil society representative. The overall infrastructure of all laboratories testing the Japanese encephalitis and acute encephalitis syndrome samples in districts must be reviewed at the earliest and a report sent to the commission within a month. The number of laboratories in the affected districts must be increased before the next monsoon and a proper surveillance system developed. A report on the steps taken must be shared with the commission.