E-drug: Vitamin A and child deaths in India (cont)
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Friends,
Re: Frank Meyer's posting on Vitamin A prophylaxis and child deaths -- There
was an enquiry conducted. I don't have the report (do not know whether its
been published) but I do know some of the findings. It is clear that there
was a major problem in dispensing the corect dosages to the children --
this had to do with a change in methodology of dispensing. A number of
children, it would appear, received dosages that were much above the
recommended levels. However a correlation between this and the deaths could
not be established. The prevailing view is that the deaths were unrelated --
most possibly due to Acute GE which is known to be common in the affected
parts. Somehow, in public view, the GE deaths were seen to be a result of
the Vit.A prophylaxis programme.
In my mind the most significant aspect of the episode is evidence of a total
dysjunction between public health programmes and peoples awareness/
participation in public health delivery. As a result such programmes are
viewed with suspicion, bordering on hostility. This is compounded by the
top-down approach followed in such programmes, and peoples' perception that
the public health system does not respond to their "real" needs.
Dr.Amit Sen Gupta
National Campaign Committee for Drug policy
India
Amit Sen Gupta <ctddsf@vsnl.com>
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