Furore over Death of Infant at Goalpara Civil Hospital

A Correspondent

Goalpara: Death over a 27-day-old infant at Goalpara Civil Hospital on Wednesday morning, who was admitted the previous night because of stomach problem, led to protest by the parents and relatives who alleged carelessness on the part of the hospital authority.

According to information, Ajit Prasad Upadhyay and Sanjana Sarma, residents of Santipur village in Dudhnoi of Goalpara district in Lower Assam, had admitted their infant daughter in the hospital after being advised by a resident doctor of the hospital, Dr RK Sheikh.

“The doctor told us that she will be alright the next day. Throughout the night we kept on collecting information about her well-being from the nurse staff. They also reported her health to be stable. But early in the morning they informed us that our baby is no more. How did she die suddenly?” said the father.

“We have come to know that the doctor on night duty, B. Baishya did not pay a single visit to the three babies being treated in the ICU. Even the staff members were seen engaged in mobile phones,” he alleged.

As the news spread, members of Gorkha Students’ Union gathered at Goalpara Civil Hospital and they protested against the ‘negligence’ of the hospital authority. The bereaved family also refused to receive the body.

“We protested against the inhumane and negligent manner in which the hospital authority treats children. There is no responsibility of the night duty staff towards the patients and they act whimsically. We want justice for the baby and stringent action for those who are responsible for the death of the baby,” said Lohit Chetry, president of the Goalpara district Gorkha Students’ Union. However, the hospital authority has denied the allegation. “Every child is same and important for us. We try our level best but everything is not with us,” said a doctor preferring anonymity.

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