Dr. R.N. Singh calls for nationwide implementation of NEE
Mail News Service
Gorakhpur, Feb 24: Renowned pediatrician and Chief Campaigner of the Encephalitis Eradication Campaign, Dr. R.N. Singh, has urged the Central Government to implement the National Program for Prevention and Control of Encephalitis (NEEP) across India to eliminate the deadly disease.
Dr. Singh, who has been tirelessly working for over a decade to combat encephalitis in Purvanchal, emphasized that while the disease has significantly declined in Gorakhpur and surrounding areas, it continues to claim lives in several states, including Assam, Jharkhand, Gujarat, Bihar and Madhya Pradesh.
“It is true that encephalitis cases have dropped in Purvanchal due to the active participation of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath, but we must not forget that the disease is still taking hundreds of lives in other states,” Dr. Singh stated.
He highlighted that despite the success in Uttar Pradesh, encephalitis remains a severe health crisis in 24 states and union territories. Referring to the deaths of hundreds of children in Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh in 2024, he stressed the urgent need for a nationwide encephalitis prevention program, similar to campaigns against polio and smallpox.
“The only way to eradicate this disease is the full implementation of NEEP at the national level,” Dr. Singh asserted. He believes that with a well-structured national program, India can be completely free of encephalitis.
