The medical superintendent of Maharishi Valmiki Infectious Diseases Hospital in North Delhi was “suspended” on Tuesday for her glaring lapses in the death of 20 children from highly-infectious diphtheria. Out of 358 children who were admitted in the hospital died allegedly due to non-availability of diphtheria antitoxin (Serum).
North Delhi Mayor Adesh Gupta said the death of young children due tonon-availability of medicines is a sheer negligence. “The MS has been suspended due to this negligence and carelessness and a new MS has already been appointed,” he said.
The report of the fact finding committee constituted after the initial deaths, is still awaited. “The investigation is underway. The report of fact finding panel hasn't come yet. It is expected to come by Thursday evening,” said Gupta.
Amidst this, Congress leader Mukesh Goyal on Wednesday demanded detailed discussion on the matter in a general meeting of the corporation. Goyal also demanded the resignation of Mayor Adesh Gupta.
Demanding resignation of Mayor, Goyal said “Such incidents describe the negligent and dodgy way of working of the corporation and cannot be ignored at any cost.
Nevertheless, this year so far, around 48 children have died from highly-infectious disease diphtheria in North Corporation run Maharishi Valmiki Hospital allegedly due to non-availability of diphtheria antitoxin (Serum).
Shockingly, out of total toll, 20 were reported in the month of September only. While 19 died in NMC run hospital, one died in Lok Nayak Jai Prakash Narayan (LNJP) Hospital. Also, 17 of the dead were from Uttar Pradesh and three were from Delhi.
Officials said the patients were up to 9 years of age and admitted in very advance stages and did not respond to the treatment. Most of them were not vaccinated for diphtheria.
According to a data released by North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NMC), 358 patients were admitted in which 166
were admitted alone in September.
Earlier, the Mayor had formed a high-level enquiry committee under the chairmanship of the Additional Commissioner (Health) to ascertain the cause of deaths. Medical Superintendents of Hindu Rao Hospital and Kasturba Hospital are members of the committee.