Fact-finding
Report on
“Infant Deaths in Kandhamal district, Odisha”
Report on
“Infant Deaths in Kandhamal district, Odisha”
Alarmed over
Media Reports about death of hundreds of Infants in Kondhamal district of
Odisha, a four-member
Fact-finding Team of Right to
Food Campaign, Odisha ( Sri Pradip Pradhan, Social Activist, Prof.
Jantrana Parikhit, President, Odisha Nagarik Samaj, Sri Sudhir Ranjan Mohanty, advocate, Odisha
High Court and Sri Khirod Rout, Member,
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha )
had visited Kondhamal district
on 7.6.15 to
ascertain fact about the causalities
and factors responsible for it.
Media Reports about death of hundreds of Infants in Kondhamal district of
Odisha, a four-member
Fact-finding Team of Right to
Food Campaign, Odisha ( Sri Pradip Pradhan, Social Activist, Prof.
Jantrana Parikhit, President, Odisha Nagarik Samaj, Sri Sudhir Ranjan Mohanty, advocate, Odisha
High Court and Sri Khirod Rout, Member,
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha )
had visited Kondhamal district
on 7.6.15 to
ascertain fact about the causalities
and factors responsible for it.
Kondhamal, which
came into existence on 1st January, 1994, after Phulbani District
is one of the most underdeveloped and backward tribal districts in the state.
It stands infamous for its highest infant mortality rate in the country (84 per 1000 child). To ensure food security
of the tribals and check
health hazards in the district, the state Govt. undertakes a number of development
schemes under tribal sub-plan and food security programme with allocation of
crores of rupees. But it has failed to
check infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the district. The tribals are seen quite vulnerable entity
and susceptible to any common disease.
came into existence on 1st January, 1994, after Phulbani District
is one of the most underdeveloped and backward tribal districts in the state.
It stands infamous for its highest infant mortality rate in the country (84 per 1000 child). To ensure food security
of the tribals and check
health hazards in the district, the state Govt. undertakes a number of development
schemes under tribal sub-plan and food security programme with allocation of
crores of rupees. But it has failed to
check infant mortality rate and maternal mortality rate in the district. The tribals are seen quite vulnerable entity
and susceptible to any common disease.
It is needless
to mention here that the team members were quite aware about bad governance,
mal-implementation of food security programme, huge corruption and
irregularities in development project like NREGA and pathetic health situation
in the district. However, the team visited
with open mind to find out the
reasons behind the series of infant deaths within a period of five months in
District Hospital, Phulbani, district head quarter of Kondhamal (as reported 105 infants died within 5 months in district
hospital).
Visit of District Hospital by the Team
reached at district
hospital at 11.30 AM and
rushed to Paediatric Ward to look into the health condition of the infants
admitted in the hospital. The Team
came across Special
New-burn Care Unit ( SNCU) functioning
as special Unit for treatment of infants
in Paediatric Ward. The Nursing
staff engaged for SNUC did not allow the team to enter into it as the Unit is
restricted for outsiders. However, the Team members visited the Ward and came
across horrible condition of the ward.
The latrine was found locked for two years. There is not drinking water. The Ward is very
dirty, unhygienic and sanitation is very bad. No patients i.e., infants admitted in the ward have not been provided
bed-sheet by the hospital authority.
Then, after inspection of the Ward, the Team met
Dr. Satya Ranjan Mallik, only
paediatric doctor in the District hospital ad Dr. Mamata Mohapatra, ADMO ( Medical) and interacted with
them to understand the reason of magnitude of the death of infants in the hospital. Narrating his plight as single paediatric doctor in the whole district (the
district has 14 Community Health
Centre and 34 Primary Health Centre with no paediatric doctor) and pitiable situation in the district hospital, Dr. Mallik said that there is no paediatric doctor
against sanctioned post of 3 doctors
for SNCU. He is assigned with multiple
works like managing OPD, Indoor patients, SNCU, Nutrition Rehabilitation
Centre, Isolation, attending VHND (village
Health and Nutrition Day). It is not practically possible to pay attention to
SMCU only. He also enlightened the Team that the Mothers
are seen suffering from maternal infection, severe anaemia, haemoglobin short
etc. which is the one of the
reasons for the infant deaths. The conditions of the mothers also affect the
new burn baby and posed threat to their life. It was also found that the Nursing staffs
appointed in SMCU are not well-trained to look after the infants.
Dr. Satya Ranjan Mallik, only
paediatric doctor in the District hospital ad Dr. Mamata Mohapatra, ADMO ( Medical) and interacted with
them to understand the reason of magnitude of the death of infants in the hospital. Narrating his plight as single paediatric doctor in the whole district (the
district has 14 Community Health
Centre and 34 Primary Health Centre with no paediatric doctor) and pitiable situation in the district hospital, Dr. Mallik said that there is no paediatric doctor
against sanctioned post of 3 doctors
for SNCU. He is assigned with multiple
works like managing OPD, Indoor patients, SNCU, Nutrition Rehabilitation
Centre, Isolation, attending VHND (village
Health and Nutrition Day). It is not practically possible to pay attention to
SMCU only. He also enlightened the Team that the Mothers
are seen suffering from maternal infection, severe anaemia, haemoglobin short
etc. which is the one of the
reasons for the infant deaths. The conditions of the mothers also affect the
new burn baby and posed threat to their life. It was also found that the Nursing staffs
appointed in SMCU are not well-trained to look after the infants.
A.D.M.O.( Medical) about horrible
condition of paediatric Ward. She
expressed her ignorance about it. The Team members got astonished and asked how
she is unaware about it. Dr. Mohapatra
called Matron and wanted to know the problem of the ward. Matron admitted the problem and said that
nobody is working. It was found that the
administration and the staff is not under the control of the authority. Sweeper and Attendants of the medical do not
care the authority. They do not attend
hospital regularly. There is only 6 Nurse
against sanctioned post of 10 in paediatric Ward. There is also no malaria specialist in the
hospital. It was also reported that total
no. of 226 children have died in thedistrict within 5 months. Dr. Mallik
accompanied the Team to visit NRC (Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre)
and found the highly malnourished children admitted in it. Their condition is
just like Somalia ad Ethopia children. While verifying the records of infant
deaths, it was found that the reason of the death cited by the doctor was due to
Aspasia.
The Team also
got opportunity to interact with Social Activists Sri Ashok Kumar Parida and
Muhammad Jiauddin Ahmmad, concerned citizens and journalists of the districts about
the condition of Hospital and disastrous health scenario of the district. They said
that total no. of 226 children have
died in the district within 5 months. AMNs hardly stay in sub-centres throughout
the district. Village and Health Nutrition Day is not observed properly. Low quality of Chhatua under ICDS is given to
the children ad mothers. Morning
breakfast and food is not properly served to the children. The State Government
is completely responsible for it. The
Pregnant and lactating women have not got their dues under Mamata Yojana since
2 years. As per information obtained through RTI, Rs.14, 000.00 is spent for
washing bed sheet in every month. But
the bed sheet is not available in the Wards.
got opportunity to interact with Social Activists Sri Ashok Kumar Parida and
Muhammad Jiauddin Ahmmad, concerned citizens and journalists of the districts about
the condition of Hospital and disastrous health scenario of the district. They said
that total no. of 226 children have
died in the district within 5 months. AMNs hardly stay in sub-centres throughout
the district. Village and Health Nutrition Day is not observed properly. Low quality of Chhatua under ICDS is given to
the children ad mothers. Morning
breakfast and food is not properly served to the children. The State Government
is completely responsible for it. The
Pregnant and lactating women have not got their dues under Mamata Yojana since
2 years. As per information obtained through RTI, Rs.14, 000.00 is spent for
washing bed sheet in every month. But
the bed sheet is not available in the Wards.
Filed visit of the Team
The Team members
visited Dudki, around 10 km distance from Phulbani to interact with the Parents
whose child died in the hospital. Srihara Behera said that he admitted her wife in District hospital on
25.5.15. She delivered a baby at 6 PM in
SMCU. It was reported by doctor that his child was having breath problem and died on 26 5.15 at 8 AM. The Team also
tried to meet other parents but found their absence in the village. ANM was also found absence in the area, as
she does not stay there.
visited Dudki, around 10 km distance from Phulbani to interact with the Parents
whose child died in the hospital. Srihara Behera said that he admitted her wife in District hospital on
25.5.15. She delivered a baby at 6 PM in
SMCU. It was reported by doctor that his child was having breath problem and died on 26 5.15 at 8 AM. The Team also
tried to meet other parents but found their absence in the village. ANM was also found absence in the area, as
she does not stay there.
Analysis of the findings
A.
Large- scale infant deaths in
Kondhamal proves the callousness, indifferent and apathetic attitude of the
state Government and its failure to
provide proper health care to the citizens. It is no doubt a matter of
concern for the concerned citizens and Civil Society who has moral responsibility to react on it. The State has completely failed to provide required
infrastructure, doctor, para-medical staff in the hospital.
Large- scale infant deaths in
Kondhamal proves the callousness, indifferent and apathetic attitude of the
state Government and its failure to
provide proper health care to the citizens. It is no doubt a matter of
concern for the concerned citizens and Civil Society who has moral responsibility to react on it. The State has completely failed to provide required
infrastructure, doctor, para-medical staff in the hospital.
B.
There is no paediatric
doctor in CHCs ad PHCs of the district.
It means the mechanism for the treatment of the children has completely failed
in the district. The infants who suffer from any disease is bound to die due to lack of treatment. The huge deaths of children also go unnoticed
as they are not allowed to be admitted
in the CHC and PHC. As the death of infants occurred in huge scale that too in
hospital this time, it came to the public notice. Otherwise, the authorities
are quite habituated to under-report the death of the children in kondhamal.
There is no paediatric
doctor in CHCs ad PHCs of the district.
It means the mechanism for the treatment of the children has completely failed
in the district. The infants who suffer from any disease is bound to die due to lack of treatment. The huge deaths of children also go unnoticed
as they are not allowed to be admitted
in the CHC and PHC. As the death of infants occurred in huge scale that too in
hospital this time, it came to the public notice. Otherwise, the authorities
are quite habituated to under-report the death of the children in kondhamal.
C.
The reason cited by the doctor
for the death of infant needs to be examined by the experts. The death may be
due to negligence of the doctor and nursing staff. As only paediatric doctor in
Hospital is assigned with multiple works.
D.
Mal-administration and
mismanagement of the hospital by the authority is another contributing factor
for death of the children. Paediatric
Ward is running without latrine, drinking water and bed sheet, sweeper etc.
E.
As the team feels the biggest reason
of the ill-health of the Mother and children is lack of proper food. Food
insecurity is the major threat to their survival in the district. It has been reported by the doctor that most
of the women are found suffering from maternal infection, severe anaemia,
haemoglobin shortage etc. the implementation of ICDS is disaster in the district.
Recommendation
Keeping in view
the pitiable and disastrous health situation in district hospital in general
and throughout the district in particular, the teams makes the following recommendation
to check infant death and improve health service in the district.
the pitiable and disastrous health situation in district hospital in general
and throughout the district in particular, the teams makes the following recommendation
to check infant death and improve health service in the district.
A.
In view of absence of
paediatric doctor throughout the districts, the Team strongly recommends to
State Govt to appoint required doctors ad fill up the vacancies in SMCU, all
CHCs and PHCs on war footing way.
B.
Repair of Latrine and making it
complete functional, availability of drinking water, bed sheet need to be ensured
at any cost.
C.
Effective monitoring and
grievance redressal mechanism should be in place with participation and engagement
of the Civil Society like rehired officials, social atavists,
journalists, concerned citizens etc.
D.
Regional Medical Research
Centre (RMRC) may be requested to send Expert team to find out real reasons
behind the instant death of infants in large scale in Kondhamal district.
E.
Infant death should not been seen in isolated
way only from the health ground. The
State Government may constitute
a judicial Commission to enquire into the rampant health hazards, deteriorating health condition of women and children, status of implementation of food security
programme like PDS, ICDS, MDM and other programme and recommend for revamping and
restoring health system in the district.
F.
The Team has also decided to approach the High
Court, if the State Govt. fails to take ay measures for improvement of health situation of the
district.
Signature of
Team Members
Team Members
Pradip
Pradhan Prof.
Jantrana parikhit
Pradhan Prof.
Jantrana parikhit
State
Convener President
Convener President
Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha Odisha
Nagarik Samaj
to Food Campaign, Odisha Odisha
Nagarik Samaj
M-9937843482 M-
9937234088
9937234088
Khirod
Rout Sri
Sudhir Mohaty
Member,
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha Advocate,
Odisha High Court
Right to Food Campaign, Odisha Advocate,
Odisha High Court
Contact
Address:
Address:
Right
to Food Campaign, Odisha
to Food Campaign, Odisha
393/2035, Padmavativihar, P.O. Sailashreevihar, Bhubaneswar, Odisha,
Email:
foodrightsodisha@gmail.com
foodrightsodisha@gmail.com
