13 children die in 18 days in Keonjhar hospital, 4 in last 24 hours

At least 13 children undergoing treatment in Keonjhar district headquarters hospital reportedly died in the last 18 days, allegedly due to medical negligence.

ADMO Kishore Prusty informed that three children have died in the last 24 hours.

“As many as three children have died in the last 24 hours. Thirteen children have died in the last 18 days. A total of 122 children have been admitted in the hospital in September and among them, 13 have died,” said Prusty.

Meanwhile, the local SDPO and the CDMO reached the hospital after tension erupted at the health centre. 

“My younger brother’s son was admitted to the hospital. He died due to negligence by the doctor and nurses,” alleged Mithun Nayak, relative of a deceased child.

“The child was admitted to ICU. However, he died as he was not provided proper Oxygen supply in time. Doctors and nurses should be always available in emergency. But, they were not present. Many children are dying in the hospital due to negligence by the authorities,” said Nayak.

A relative of another deceased child also blamed the absence of doctors and the lackadaisical attitude of the authorities for the tragic incident.

“Our child was admitted at 9 pm last night. No doctors were present in the hospital at night and we were not allowed to enter the hall in which our child was admitted. The doctor came around 12 am today and told us that the child is no more. We are crestfallen and helpless following the development,” said Priyanka Muduli.