Infant death toll in Cuttack Sishu Bhavan mounts to 25

Odisha Sun Times Bureau
Cuttack/Bhubaneswar, Aug 24:

With three more infant deaths reported this evening, the death toll at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP), the premier paediatrics hospital in Odisha also known as Sishu Bhavan, in the last four days has now mounted to 25. The deaths have been attributed to negligence of doctors, nurses and other staff by relatives of the deceased infants.

After death of 25 infants at the state-run hospital in the last four days, wisdom has finally dawned on the Health department which had remained hitherto callous by simply ordering an inquiry by the CDMO and waiting for the report. The department has now called for a high-level meeting at noon tomorrow to review the situation.

The meeting to be chaired by Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak will be attended by the departmental secretary and director and the local MLA.

Meanwhile, a two-member delegation of the district child welfare committee today visited the SVPPGIP to inquire into the spate of infant deaths in the hospital. The delegation held discussions with the director of the institute Dr Niranjan Mohanty.

“Patients come here in very critical stages from all corners of the state. We are still trying to investigate the complaints to understand what exactly happened. CDMO will submit a ground report today.  The health department will examine the report and based on the recommendation action will be taken,” Health Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak had earlier said in the day.