‘Many die in paediatric ward die every August’
Large numbers of children are admitted in the hospital from neighbouring districts as well as from Bihar and Nepal. Majority of the children are brought here during the last stage of the disease SIDDHARTH NATH SINGH , Health minister UP
GORAKHPUR: Health minister Siddharth Nath Singh and medical education minister Ashutosh Tandon ruled out ‘lack of oxygen as the reason behind deaths of 33 children at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur.
Addressing a press conference,they, however, admitted that 23 deaths were reported on Friday alone.
“Each year large number of children admitted in the paediatrics ward of the hospital fall prey to disease in August,” Singh said. Insisting that there could be various reasons for the deaths, Singh said the death ratio during this month is 20-22 children per day. “Large numbers of children are admitted in the hospital from neighbouring districts as well as from Bihar and Nepal. Majority of the children are brought here during the last stage of the disease,” he said.
“We have studied various aspects of the deaths of the children in the hospital. Along with Encephalitis ward, children admitted in the neonatal wards have also died. The deaths were due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES), infections and liver failure as well,” he said.
Focusing on the oxygen crisis, Singh said on August 10 the supply meter was low at 7.30 pm due to non-availability of the oxygen. However, the supply from cylinder was activated soon after.
“The cylinder supply continued till 11.30 pm. When the supply got exhausted, the oxygen was provided through Ambu bags (hand-held device). At 1.30 am, the cylinder gas supply was restored in the wards. The supply of oxygen is continuing in the wards today. Only 7 deaths were reported between 7.30 pm- 10.05 pm when there was short supply of oxygen,” he said.
On non-payment of bill to company supplying oxygen, Singh said the company has written letter to the principal BRD Medical College regarding delay in the payment. The principal sent the letter to DG Medical Education who released the fund on August 5 and on August 7 the fund was credited in the account of the medical college. The dealer got the money on August 11.
“I have asked the officers about the delay in the release of fund and payment,” he said.