Parlakhemundi: Villagers protested and blocked the road in Jajpur village of Parlakhemundi tehsil in Odisha’s Gajapati district over the death of an 11-month-old child Monday night, a source said.
The deceased was identified as Sanchit.
The protestors held the anganwadi worker and accredited social health activist (ASHA) responsible for the infant’s death over the allegation of giving expired medicines to the child. The locals blocked the road connecting Parlakhemundi and Mohana demanding strict action against the alleged perpetrators.
According to the source, the baby became ill April 11 allegedly after consuming medicines procured from local anganwadi centre.
Although, he recovered for a brief period following treatment, his condition worsened again a few days later. His parents admitted the child to District Headquarters Hospital (DHH) in Parlakhemundi and later to a hospital in Vishakhapatnam. In the wake of no improvement in his condition, they took him to AIIMS-Bhubaneswar and lastly to Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack, where he breathed his last Monday.
The family members of the deceased have filed an FIR in this regard.
Police have launched a probe into the matter.
PNN
