Madhya Pradesh steps up healthcare after tribal children die in Balaghat
Bhopal, Sep 14 (PTI) Amid outrage over the death of some tribal children due to diseases in Balaghat district and facing legal scrutiny, the Madhya Pradesh government has announced various measures to strengthen health facilities.
The measures, including ensuring timely antenatal care, deployment of additional medical staff and sanctioning Rs 2 crore to strengthen health facilities, were announced a day after CJP convenor Abhijeet Dipke visited tribal villages and and demanded accountability for the deaths of around 30 children due to diseases.
Dipke visited Adori, Korka and Bondari villages on Saturday to meet families who had lost their children and gather details about healthcare facilities and the circumstances surrounding the deaths. He questioned the administration's response and demanded that responsibility be fixed.
On Sunday evening, Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla reviewed health arrangements in Balaghat through video conferencing from Bhopal and directed officials to ensure effective healthcare coverage across the district, including remote and rural areas, officials said.
Shukla said the government has posted 67 new medical officers in the district and sanctioned Rs 2 crore to strengthen existing health facilities. Directions have also been issued for setting up two new primary health centres, one sub-health centre and two mobile medical units.
He directed officials to ensure 100 per cent vaccination, identify children who have missed doses and conduct special drives in difficult-to-reach areas.
Officials said timely registration and antenatal check-ups of pregnant women, identification and follow-up of high-risk pregnancies and institutional deliveries are also prioritised.
The deputy chief minister also called for inter-departmental coordination to strengthen drinking water and child nutrition services and directed officials to improve Anganwadi centres and ensure regular follow-up of children and beneficiaries.
The government said it would provide necessary resources, including medicines, equipment, transport and manpower as per local requirements.
Alternative vaccination arrangements, including hiring vaccinators and using alternate vaccine delivery mechanisms, would be made in difficult-to-reach areas.
Last week, the Madhya Pradesh High Court had sought a response from the state government over the deaths. A division bench of Acting Chief Justice Vivek Rusia and Justice Pradeep Mittal issued notices to the Health Department, the Women and Child Development Department, Balaghat collector and others while hearing a PIL.
The petition alleged inadequate treatment and claimed that around 400 children were being treated at a hospital with a capacity of 50 beds. It also alleged that yellow-coloured water was coming from handpumps in the affected areas and that children and women had not received nutritious food on time for several months.