New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) The Congress today reacted to the increasing number of child deaths in BJP-ruled states like Jharkhand, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan, stating that these were not deaths, but the future of the country was being ‘murdered’ by the respective state governments. Giving details, AICC In-Charge for Jharkhand and Uttar Pradesh RPN Singh said the first medical college of Jharkhand, MGM Medical College and Hospital in Jamshedpur, had reported 60 infant deaths in the last one month, including 52 new-borns. Though a state-level probe did not find any negligence on part of the hospital, but the infant care equipment was far from satisfactory, he pointed out. According to Mr Singh, out of six incubators at the hospital, only four were functional. Each incubator was meant for a single premature baby or an abnormally small and underweight newborn. However, as many as three babies were being kept in one incubator at MGM, increasing chances of infection and even leading to new-born deaths, he added. Jamshedpur is the constituency of Chief Minister Raghubar Das. If this is the situation at one of the largest hospitals in the Chief Minister’s constituency, one can imagine the condition of smaller hospitals in other districts and cities of Jharkhand, Mr Singh said. He further gave details about the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, which had witnessed 133 deaths in the last 28 days. After this, Jharkhand Governor Draupadi Murmu, who visited the city, said these deaths need to be stopped immediately, Mr Singh added. Talking about Rajasthan, the former Union Minister said 80 infants had died in the last 50 days in tribal-dominated Banswara district. The Congress leader also mentioned the incident of a group of doctors, who started fighting inside the Operation Theatre of Umaid Hospital in Jodhpur, while a pregnant woman went into labour. The 30-minute long fight resulted in the woman’s newborn baby dying in front of the medicos. ”When we came to know about it, we organised a dharna in Rajasthan. The Rajasthan High Court then took cognisance of the incident and sought a report from the Jodhpur hospital,” he claimed. While two of the accused doctors have been suspended, Rajasthan Health Minister Kali Charan Saraf has said that an enquiry committee has been set up and those guilty will be taken into account. However, no FIR has been lodged so far, said Mr Singh. The Congress leader further mentioned about the BRD Medical College of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh, which had witnessed 300 infant deaths in the last 72 hours.
Mr Singh remarked that BJP does not believe in taking resignation from any of its leaders. UNI
