One lakh children in India die of rotavirus infection every year

Agartala: Eight to ten lakh children are admitted in hospitals across the country due to rotavirus infection every year and one lakh of them die of the disease, Union Health Minister J P Nadda said today.

The disease can be checked only by administering vaccines, he said launching the second phase of the rotavirus vaccine programme here for the states of Tripura, Assam,
Tamilnadu, Rajasthan and Madhyapradesh. He launched the programme by administering rotavirus vaccine along with Tripura Health Minister Badal Chowdhury to
children.

Nadda said immunization programme for children is a priority in the country and last year there was an increase of five per cent in immunization programme. The health ministry, he said, has launched 'Mission Indradhanus' and introduced four vaccines including those against rotavirus and encephalitis. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had given clear cut instructions that the east and north-east should get priority and focus in development works and the union health ministry is working in that direction.

"We (the Centre) do not do politics on health," he said adding the development demands of Tripurs will be met. Tripura government had wanted Rs 20 crore for
development of the state cancer unit, but the ministry had sanctioned Rs 120 crore for its development, he said. "We are giving money, but entire amount is not being
spent. The states should spend the allocated money for development," he said and gave the instance of Uttarakhand which did not spend Rs 179 crore sanctioned to it.

Chowdhury  said the infant nortality rate in Tripura had come down to 20 last year from 34 in 2009 against a national average of 37. Nadda appreciated the success of Tripura government in immunization programme saying "The state has done a commendable job."