Infants’ death toll at JK Lone Hospital in Rajasthan‘s Kota climbed to 107 on Saturday. Seven infants, including 2 newborns lost their lives on first three days of the new year due to lack of facilities.
A disciplinary team sent by the Central government reached Kota to ascertain the cause of deaths and suggest measures to prevent further loss of lives. The Central govt team is comprised of Deepak Saxena, senior regional director of Rajasthan; head of paediatrics of AIIMS Jodhpur, Dr Kuldeep Singh; National Health Systems Resource Centre adviser Dr Himanshu Bhushan and Dr Arun Singh who is a professor of neonatology at AIIMS in Jodhpur.
Union Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vardhan also assured Ashok Gehlot-led Rajasthan government of providing every possible support to tackle the problems. However, the authorities drew flak after they rolled out carpet for Ministers visiting the hospital.
Upset over the death of infants, Interim President of Congress, Sonia Gandhi called a meeting of senior party leaders on Saturday to discuss the problem and necessary measures to resolve it. On the other hand, Lok Sabha Speaker and Member of Parliament from Kota, Om Birla also visited the family members of some of the infants who died in JK Lone Hospital.
Speaking to media, the Lok Sabha speaker said, “I met some families of the infants who passed away in JK Lon hospital. We are standing with these families in this hour of grief. I have written twice to Rajasthan CM, suggesting steps to improve medical facilities. ”
Earlier, a report accessed by the Hindustan Times, revealed that only 213 key equipment were available for use out of 533. Out of 20 ventilators, 14 of them were non functional. 32 out of 38 pulse oximeters were not working and out of 28 nebulizers, only 6 of them were functional. In NICU, only 24 out of 71 warmers were functional.
Another media report cited leakage of roofs and improper hygiene to be the reason behind spreading of infection, leading to death of infants.