Bengal has recorded the highest number of child deaths from pneumococcal diseases in the past two years.

According to experts, pneumococcus bacteria causes more than 80 per cent of the pneumonia-related deaths.

The Central Bureau of Health Intelligence data shows that in 2006, 1,151 died of pneumonia in the state. The figure was 620 the next year, again highest in the country.

KATRA :for the 3-day intensified Pulse Polio Immunization programme, 42 booths were setup in Health Block Katra of district Reasi which also includes four booths setup on the track of Mata Vaishno Devi at different locations for the facilities of visiting pilgrims.

Twenty tribals, including nine of the Birhor tribe, on the verge of extinction, died in Chatra district, Jhar-khand in October. State government attributed the deaths to food poisoning while social workers claimed they died of hunger. A report in early November, by a committee set up by the state government to probe their deaths, said the cause was food poisoning but questioned the lack of

School meals in a mess in Jharkhand poisoned milk served at a school

Dismissing media reports on school girls in Barabanki falling sick after given deworming tablets, mission director, National Rural Health Mission (NRHM) Rajiv Kapoor said that the government had no intention to recall the Saloni

HYDERABAD: The Comptroller and Auditor-General (CAG) has pulled up the State for failing to provide adequate school infrastructure for implementing the mid-day meal scheme and inflating the enrolment figures while seeking Central allotment of rice.

Jamshedpur: With the state recording an increase in the number of malnourished children, the government has embarked on a project to set up malnutrition treatment centres (MTCs) in the districts on the lines of Rajasthan.

The first such centre will start functioning in Ghatshila from mid-December. Another will open in Jugsalai in a couple of months.

Jammu: The mid-day meals scheme aimed at improving nutritional status of children of primary schools, attract more enrolments besides checking early dropout cases, is not catching up with the students, thanks to substandard food being served to them.

HAILAKANDI, Dec 1