Post News Network
Kendrapara, Jan 17: A 21-day-old boy died allegedly after intake of polio drops at a booth under Pattamundai block in this district. The district heath department has started an inquiry into the incident.
According to sources, Suprava Sethy, wife of Pradip Sethy of Kathiapada village under Pattamundai police limits, Sunday took her 21-day-old sick son to a polio booth at the local ME school under Badapada sub-centre for administration of police vaccine. However, the infant died minutes after the vaccination.
Suprava lodged an FIR at Pattamundai police station alleging Satyabhama Mahakuda, an ASHA worker of her village, asked her to bring her newborn child to the local school for administration of oral polio drops. When she and her in-laws asked the ASHA worker whether it was advisable for her sick child to get the polio drops, Satyabhama told them there is no harm in doing so, Suparva alleged.
However, after intake of the polio drops, the child’s condition became serious on the way while being brought home, she said in her complaint. Later, the family members took the baby to the Pattamundai community health centre (CHC) where doctors declared it brought dead.
Chief district medical officer (CDMO) Binayak Prusty said medical officer in-charge of Pattamundai CHC Dr. Nirakar Parida has been asked to conduct an inquiry and submit a detailed inquiry report within 24 hours.
When contacted, Dr. Parida said as per preliminary inquiry the child was not taking food for last two days as he was sick. The child has been suffering from septicaemia and was affected by infection.
Dr Parida refuted the claim that the child died due to intake of polio drops. He stated that the child died due to sickness. Meanwhile, Pattamundai police seized the body and sent it for autopsy to Aul CHC.
Tension prevailed in the locality after the infant’s death. Only 164 out of the targeted 226 children were administered polio drops at the booth Sunday. PNN