The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo motu cognizance of a media report that health workers made three women deliver on the floor despite availability of beds at Primary Health Centre in Bansdih (Ballia) resulting in t he death of three new borns.
An NHRC communiqué released on Monday afternoon mentioned that the Commission has observed that the contents of the report, if true, raise a serious issue of violation of human rights of women and new borns. Accordingly, notices have been issued to the Principal Secretary, Department of Health and Family Welfare, along with the Chief Medical Officer of Balia, calling for reports from them within two weeks. Further action will be taken on basis of government’s report.
According to media reports published on October 20, 2015, the staff on duty at PHA in Bansdih, were avoiding to attend to deliveries on the beds lest the bed sheets get dirty. Not only this, they were asking the staff of ASHA, to carry out the deliveries on the floor which led to death of three new borns.
The Tehsildar, on receiving the complaint, visited the Health Centre and the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) observed that it was a case of gross negligence by the staff of the Primary Health Centre and strict action will be taken against the guilty. He also sent an Additional CMO to investigate the matter.