Infant death toll 28: Minister urges not to politicise issue

Even as the death toll of infants mounted to 28 by this evening in the last five days at the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Post Graduate Institute of Paediatrics (SVPPGIP), the premier paediatrics hospital in Odisha also known as Sishu Bhavan, Cuttack, Health and Family Welfare Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak asked not to politicize the issue. 

Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak

“We have formed a technical committee with the Director Medical Education & Training (DMET) as its chairperson to investigate the matter.  The committee will have a specialist from AIIMS as its member.  The committee will submit its report within ten days to the government.  If any employee or employees of Sishu Bhawan are found to be responsible for lapses leading to the death of infants, action will be taken against them,” Nayak told the media after presenting a detailed report in the Odisha Assembly. 

“It is unfortunate that 24 children died in four days and most of the victims are newborns,” the Minister told the Assembly, adding Sishu Bhawan is the premier child care facility where patients from across Odisha and outside come every day. 

“Stringent action will be taken if there is any negligence in treatment,” Nayak assured the House. 

On an average 400 to 450 children visit Sishu Bhawan for treatment everyday, he said, adding the 24 children who died during the last four days were mostly suffering from septicaemia, meningitis, premature birth, low weight and pneumonia.