Jamshedpur, Sept. 12 : A five-member committee constituted last week by health department for fresh investigation into last year�s children death at state-run MGM Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur on Wednesday visited the
hospital.
The team led by director-in-chief health services, Dr Rajendra Paswan and comprising medical education director Dr Laxman Lal, Kolhan regional deputy director (health), Dr Suresh Kumar, state child health cell director, Dr Veena Sinha and child health expert Dr Ajit Kumar Prasad, demanded case sheets of each of the 164 infant deaths.
The team also visited the NICU (neonatal intensive care unit) and
PICU (prenatal intensive care unit) and saw the condition in which the
newborns are kept.
A member requesting anonymity expressed surprise at 26 newborns being adjusted in six warmers and out of which two warmers are defunct.
Jharkhand Human Rights Conference (a human right outfit) president, Manoj Mishra who raised the issue of children death at MGM was asked
to share his opinion in writing. �I have asked the probe team to not only investigate into the mismanagement at the MGM Hospital but also focus on the reason for the
children and their mother getting malnourished, as was cited by the
earlier team report.
The earlier team had given the MGM Hospital clean
chit citing the newborns deaths were due to low birth weight
indicating malnutrition, birth asphyxia and premature deliveries.
I advised the team that they should probe if the Integrated Child
Development Services (ICDS) schemes like Janani Suraksha Yojana for
pregnant women and newborn are running properly or not,� said Manoj
Mishra. The human rights activist said that as per his survey out of a total
of 180 Mamta vahans only 56 are working in the district.
Director in chief health services, Dr Paswan, said that they will be
probing into all aspects of the newborn deaths as directed by the
Lokayukta.
MGM Medical College and Hospital is a government hospital with the
facility of 540 beds. Everyday around 1000 patients come here for
treatment.
It may be mentioned that State Government governed Mahatma
Gandhi Memorial Medical College and Hospital, is an Indian medical
school established in 1964. It is situated in the outskirts of
Jamshedpur near Dimna. The college’s hospital is located in Sakchi.