Eight arrested for fake immunization in Chhattisgarh

Bematara, Jun 27 (UNI) Chhattisgarh police have arrested eight people, who allegedly collected money from the villagers for vaccination for Hepatites B and injected water under a fake immunisation programme here in Durg district.

The matter came to light two days back after a few villagers alerted Congress legislator Ravindra Choubey saying that a non-government organisation (NGO) -- Navjagruti Welfare Society -- was carrying out vaccination for hepatitis B.

The modus operandi of the gang, comprising women, was to reach a village and to undertake an ''awareness campaign'' using banners and posters to motivate people for vaccination. Later, they collected Rs 60 per person for administering the ''vaccine''.

Police and health officials reached the village and rounded up the members of the gang following a complaint from the Durg district Chief Medical Officer that no organisation has been authorised to undertake such a programme.

Interrogation of those arrested revealed that none of them were qualified or trained enough to administer any vaccine and they were injecting water in the guise of Hepatitis B vaccine.

Police said injection kit and some medicines were seized from the possession of the accused and further investigations were in progress. Police suspect that similar gangs were also operating in many other villages of the district.

Meanwhile, Congress legislator Ravindra Choubey told UNI over telephone that few years ago a number of children fell ill after an immunization programme in village Jamtara.

He said the administration has assured to monitor the health of those people, who fell prey to the fake immunization programme.

UNI