Maharashtra Governor For Convergence Of Schemes To Tackle Malnutrition

Mumbai: Alarmed over the rising deaths of tribal children due to malnourishment in Mokhada tehsil in Palghar district, Maharashtra Governor C Vidyasagar Rao has directed the state to converge various government schemes to tackle the issue efficiently.

State Health Minister Deepak Sawant said the Governor wants convergence of schemes related to tribal development, rural development and women and child development.

"Cases of malnourished tribal children have risen. However, reports about 600 of tribal children having died due to malnutrition is not true," Mr Sawant told reporters in Mumbai on Friday.

"It is wrong to say that all deaths of tribal children were due to malnutrition. Some deaths were due to drowning, snake bites and ailments. I had recommended it to the Governor for convergence of various schemes related to the tribal population for effective implementation and finding solutions," he said.

Mr Sawant assured that there are adequate stocks of medicines to tackle dengue, malaria and chikungunya with the Public Health Department and warned of action against private medical labs for overcharging for health reports from patients.

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"There has been 47 per cent decline in malaria cases this year, compared to the 30,223 reported last year, this year the number of cases was 15,921," he said.

He added that in the case of chikungunya, 439 cases have been reported, of which 393 alone were reported from Pune and surrounding areas.

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"So far, no deaths have been reported due to chikungunya. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) (in Pune) is studying the chikungunya cases reported in the state," he said.