Keonjhar: A two-month-old infant died couple of hours after being administered vaccination at Puskala village under Telkoi in Keonjhar district late on Wednesday night.Tension ran high in the village after locals detained an Auxiliary Nursing Midwifery (ANM) today in connection with the incident.
The infuriated villagers also resorted to road blockade demanding adequate compensation for the family members of the baby.
They refused to release the ANM unless the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO) intervenes. According to reports, Dasrath Dhangad and Sakuntala Dhangad of the village had administered vaccination and polio to their son at the Jamubadi Kendra yesterday. Couple of hours after returning from the Kendra, blood started oozing from his nose and the hand on which the infant was injected also started bleeding. The frightened parents called upon an Anaganwadi worker and an ANM for treatment.
“When we returned home after administering the baby vaccination, his hand where he was injected started bleeding. Later, he was unable to move his head and could not eat,” informed the infant’s father.
The parents of the baby alleged that the ANM after examining the infant informed them that the baby was suffering from fever due to the vaccination and advised them to give paracetamol tablet.
On the other hand, the ANM refuted the allegations saying that she had advised the couple to administer only one fourth of the 500 mg tablet but they fed him the full tablet leading to his death late night.
Following the incident, the Jamubadi Kendra supervisor rushed to the spot and tried to pacify the mob.
A team including the Keonjhar Additional District Medical Officer (ADMO) Sudhansu Sekhar Bal has reached the village and started investigation into the incident. “After receiving the information, a team led by ADMO has been sent to the spot. After the team submit its reports, an investigation will be initiated,” informed Dr. Swapneswar Gadnayak, Keonjahar CDMO.