Even as a huge outrage was witnessed across the State over a large number of infant deaths at the Cuttack Sishu Bhawan, poor infrastructure and shortage of paediatricians remain a major cause of concern in the Government-run hospitals in Odisha.
The sick newborn care units (SNCUs) that were established to provide healthcare service to infants in critical condition are yet to function in the State. While SNCUs are yet to be set up in most districts, the system is being monitored by contractual nurses in several places, sources said.
The infant death rate (up to 1 month from birth) remains grim in districts including Puri, Khordha, Kendrapada, Dhenkanal, Boudh, Keonjhar, Kandhamal and Balangir.
While the delivery percentage is 80 in Puri district, around 41 newborns per 1,000 died within minutes of birth. The percentage is 71 in Balangir while it is lower in Jagatsinghpur. Excluding Rayagada, Gajapati and Nabarangpur districts, the number is 30 per 1,000 in all the districts.
In view of rise in infant death rate in the State, the Government had set up SNCUs for which UNICEF and Health Mission are providing technical support and financial assistance, respectively. A newborn weighing 1,800 gram or more can be treated at level 2 SNCUs. However, newborns in critical condition or under-weight babies are usually shifted to the Cuttack Sishu Bhawan which has facilities like ICU and ventilator.
Sources said the Government is trying to elevate SNCU level 2 to level 3 in three other State-run medical colleges to treat babies weighing under 700 gram. As per rules, each SNCU should have at least 10 regular trained nurses and the system is supposed to be monitored by a paediatrician. However, the Government has failed to ppoint regular nurses for SNCUs so far. Rather, contractual nurses are in the charge of the system.
Similarly, shortage of paediatricians at the State-run hospitals is a major concern. To make matters worse, most paediatricians are allegedly not paying attention towards SNCUs. On the other hand, the National Health Mission that is supposed to provide financial support to establish SNCUs too has not been paying due attention to the units in districts like Jagatsinghpur and Kendrapada where the newborns with serious condition are being referred to Sishu Bhawan at Cuttack.
Several efforts are being made by the Government to decrease infant mortality rate in the State. However, the Government is yet to lay stress on core areas like creation of posts for significant healthcare service in the SNCUs and appointment of regular staff to man them, said sources from healthcare organisations.