Polio cases among Muslims on rise
[ Wednesday, March 08, 2006 02:16:03 amTIMES NEWS NETWORK ]
Times of India, 8th March, 2006


PATNA: At least 30 fresh cases of polio were detected in Bihar in 2005 of
which more than 40 per cent concerned Muslims, health minister Chandra Mohan
Rai told the state legislative council during Question Hour on Tuesday.

Replying to a question of Ram Bachan Rai, the minister said only one case
of polio has been detected in the current year. He said detection of polio
among Muslims has been on rise due to misinformation campaign launched about
the Pulse Polio drive among them by some vested interests.

Giving details, the minister said among the total polio cases detected in
Bihar, Muslims accounted for 47.1 per cent in 2002, 50 per cent in 2003 and
43.9 per cent in 2005. In only 2004, the percentage among Muslims was less
than 40, he said.

He underlined the need for an awareness programme in different parts of
the state. He said the government is ready to take cooperation of all the
agencies in generating awareness about polio.
Selection of midwives: Health minister Rai on Tuesday said the government
has selected 29,178 midwives for posting them in different blocks. Replying
to a question of Birkeshwar Prasad Singh in the council, he said proper
training would be given to the selected midwives.

Leprosy patients: Health minister, while replying to a question of Kiran
Ghai, said the number of leprosy patients detected in Bihar is 12,717 during
the last one year. Of these, 1,156 cases were detected in Patna alone.


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