OREANDA-NEWS. The Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Shri J P Nadda reviewed the health parameters of Tamil Nadu and implementation of various national health programmes, particularly on vector borne diseases, Japanese Encephalitis (JE) and Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), with the Health Minister of Tamil Nadu, Dr C Vijaya Bhaskar and officers of the state government, at Chennai on Saturday.

Noting that Tamil Nadu had done well in achieving health indicators for IMR, MMR and in implementing public health programmes, the Health Minister assured all help to the state government for further improving the health services in the state. The Health Minister stated that the central government has released Rs. 2.5 crore each for setting up paediatric ICUs in five districts in the state covering Madurai, Thanjavur, Thiruvarur, Villupuram and Karur; four of these have already become functional.

Funds to the tune of Rs. 5 crore have also been released for physical and medical rehabilitation centre at Madurai Medical College. The state government has agreed to expeditiously utilise this amount. Noting that JE/AES cases were emerging from other parts of the state, other than the programme districts, the Health Minister has advised the state government to be more vigilant in the other districts and agreed to take three more districts in the JE immunisation programme.

The Minister also stated that a State Cancer Institute has been approved to be set up at in the state, and funds will be soon released.

The Health Minister stated that an inter-ministerial meeting has been called at New Delhi on 7th January 2015 with health ministers from five states of Assam, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and TN to review the JE/AES cases in the states.