A baby is now struggling for life in the Bargarh District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) as it was branded with hot iron by a quack. The baby was brought to the hospital when the traditional treatment of branding the belly of the baby failed.
As per information, Arati Barik gave birth to a male child on May 27 in the Government hospital at Sohela. She was discharged on June 1 when the doctors got satisfied that both the mother and the child were alright. But when they reached their native village in Bagdipali, the child fell sick.
Instead of bringing the baby to the hospital, Tuku Barik, the father of the child, consulted the village quack who assured to cure the baby by branding on the belly. With the inhuman and unscientific treatment, the condition of the baby deteriorated and finally with the advice of the villagers, the parents again brought the baby to Sohela hospital first and then to Bargarh DHH.
“The newborn is in critical condition. We are putting all our efforts to cure the baby with special care,” said child specialist of the Bargarh DHH Dr KC Mahakud. “This is not a new case in this district. We have already treated three such children in recent months coming with hot iron rod branding on belly,” Dr Mahakud informed.
The district administration is now planning to take action against the quack, who applied the wrong treatment to the baby, said sources.