The Bharatiya Janata Party on Sunday launched a scathing attack on the Naveen Patnaik government for making ‘little efforts’ to check child deaths alleged to be occurring in Sishu Bhawan, Odisha’s foremost paediatric care facility.
The BJP’s attack has a come at a time when 50 deaths, mostly of infants, have been reported in past 10 days.
The saffron party has announced to stage demonstration at all 314 block headquarters and in front of office of the Chief District Medical Officer and Sub-Divisional Medical Officers over deteriorating healthcare in the State on September 2 next.
“Sishu Bhawan has almost turned into a death trap for children. The deaths occurring at quick succession has spread a mournful atmosphere all around. But Chief Minister has not bothered to travel a distance of 20 km to reach the hospital at Cuttack and stir its administration to take preventive steps,” said Bijoy Mohapatra, senior BJP leader, addressing a press conference here.
Mr. Mohapatra said: “Mr. Patnaik is busy in laying foundations for different projects and posing for photographs. But his immediate duty is to console parents who have lost their babies and ensure such tragic deaths do not occurr especially in top government-run paediatric facility.”
“When the deaths have assumed such an alarming proportion, the State government has not woken up to deal with the situation. Steps were not taken to at least set up a control room and it was opened only yesterday,” he alleged.
It is irony that the State government deployed only two doctors at Sishu Bhawan after people raised concerns over the deaths, said the BJP leader.
Mr. Mohapatra drew attention on the latest CAG report which deliberated comprehensively on deteriorating health service in the State. “The death rate in three government-run medical colleges has gone up from 5 to 7 per cent in five years period between 2009 and 2014. Mr. Patnaik should blame him for this situation as he had been in power for around a decade,” he said.
Pointing out that the State government claimed to have spent Rs.12,000 crore in health sector in the past four years, the BJP leader said: “Where has the money gone? The health infrastructure across the State is crumbling. Situation like in Sishu Bhawan is spreading to other parts of the State.”
Plans to stage demonstration at all 314 block headquarters, Chief District Medical Officer’s office on September 2
