Tragedies drew top politicians, but could not bring in facilities

LUCKNOW: The recurring tragedies have often converted the Gorakhpur’s BRD Medical College into a political battlefield.

In 2008, when the Mayawatiled BSP government was in power, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had visited the medical college after death of one dozen children due to encephalitis.

In 2011, the then union health minister Ghulam Nabi Azad visited the BRD Medical College to review the health facilities after the deaths of children admitted in the Encephalitis ward.

In October, 2012, the then CM Akhilesh Yadav visited the BRD Medical College and announced compensation to the family members of patients who died in the hospital.

In February 2015, union health minister JP Nadda visited the medical college to review the arrangements for encephalitis patients admitted in the hospital.

The deaths of children and lack of facilities in the BRD Medical College has been on top of the agenda of CM Yogi Adityanath ever since he won the Gorakhpur Lok Sabha seat in 1998.

To draw the attention of the government to the disease, he had often handed over memorandums to ministers, organise dharnas, seminars and raising the issue in Lok Sabha.

Soon after taking over as CM, he visited the BRD Medical College. During the review meeting, he directed the officers to strengthen the facilities.

However, the Friday tragedy has exposed the reality.

“The death of the 30 children has exposed the loopholes in the working of the BRD Medical College and facilities provided to patients,” said Gorakhpur-based social activist Manoj Singh.

“The state government should take prompt action as flow of patients will continue in the hospital till the end of monsoon,” he said.

IN FEB 2015, HEALTH MINISTER JP NADDA VISITED THE MEDICAL COLLEGE TO REVIEW THE ARRANGEMENTS FOR ENCEPHALITIS PATIENTS