Gorakhpur: Two months after the death of the children at the (BRD) Baba Raghav DasMedical College in Gorakhpur, a national disturbance arose; causing the institution’s principal, a doctor and other employees to be arrested, the number of deaths in the hospital is increasing. According to PK Singh, Principal, BRD Medical College, 19 children died in the hospital in the last 24 hours, 13 deaths of newborns, and six other Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES). 69 people have died in four days since October 7.
In the second week of August, 60 people died in five days. “Many deaths are in Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) for various reasons such as Pneumonia, Septicemia, asphyxia, etc.” said Principal Singh of the college. He said that in a critical condition a large number of newborn infants are coming to remote areas from the hospital.
There are presently 118 children admitted into the NICU, the 13 of whom died due to various medical reasons, said Singh. That there are 333 patients admitted in the pediatric ward. Out of these 333 patients, 109 children are suffering from AES.
According to hospital records, the number of patients in the last four days is filled between 333 and 360, and the number of deaths varies from 12 to 20 each day. According to the records, 12 children died on 7th October, 20 died on 8th October, 18 died on 9th October9, and 19 deaths were reported on 10th October. Singh said, “Most of these deaths are in NICU and various medical reasons, and the rest is due to Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES).
The deaths in August attracted national attention after the news that the hospital had to face the lack of supply of oxygen on time. Although the state government denied that the death was due to the lack of oxygen, then the college principal, in-charge of special ward, clerk and the pharmacist, action was taken against them for negligence. An FIR was lodged against the Supplier of liquid oxygen in the hospital and all the accused have been arrested.