Outlook English - Print Subscribers Copy Outlook English, 02 July 2018 | Page 17
SANDIPAN CHATTERJEE
referral hospital—BC Roy Children’s Hospital, Calcutta. Nor the
untreated, though. “There’s a severe shortage of staff,” he says.
nine newborns dying in just 26 hours in Malda’s Medical College
“From doctor to janitor.” As twilight falls, Hassan and Enait
and Hospital. The latter gained notoriety for the highest number
spread out their mats and prepare to face the mosquitoes, rats
of crib deaths in Bengal, by some estimates 500, in 2011-12.
and bats—lucky enough within this frame.
Odisha too has deteriorated over the years. From an average of
A nameless adivasi woman, from Sarigeta village in Odisha’s
11 doctors for one lakh people in 2009-10, it’s dipped to just eight
Malkangiri district, was lucky too. Heavy blood loss during child-
by 2014-15. The primary health care system, especially in remote
birth had put her in serious danger. And not even the Hippocratic
tribal districts, is itself in a critical condition. And even secondary/
oath obliged the young doctor to do what he did. He lent his shoul-
tertiary hospitals, whic h have the best doctors and facilities, see a
der to carry her over eight km, all the way to Papulur hospital. The
high rate of deaths. Take Odisha’s premier paediatrics hospital,
state was inspired enough to institute the Gopabandhu award for
SVPPGIP in Cuttack, better known as Shishu Bhavan. In August-
doctors who go beyond the call of duty—Dr Omkar Hota, naturally,
September 2015, nearly 60 children died here in just two months.
would get it first. But that such awards exist is itself a kind of
What could be cause for further notoriety? The revelation that
indictment of the vacuum the State has left out there.
over 5,900 children had died here in the five preceding years! No
No less than 3,119 of the 6,536 doctors’ posts in government
wonder all hell broke loose, with a flurry of inquiries.
hospitals are vacant; and 156 rural hospitals have no doctors at
But there are redeeming facets to the story on both sides of the
all! This June, Tentulikhunti in Nabrangpur district was witness to
border. Malda hit the headlines during Mamata
an unusual scene. The whole village was out
Banerjee’s first term. With her second term,
to bid a tearful adieu to Dr Kishore Chandra
Odisha, WB are laggards
Calcutta’s children’s hospitals do reveal
Das as he prepared to leave to pursue a
“poriborton”. Doctors say they are perennially
post-graduate degree in orthopaedics. Nearly
Odisha has only 29.4% houses
“on guard”. Didi has issued strict instructions:
everyone cried and hugged the doctor—more
with improved sanitation
there must be no neglect. She is known for
proof, if any was needed, that a creaking sys-
In West Bengal, 20.3% children
surprise visits that make hospital managers
tem hobbled by personnel shortage depends
are wasted 65
quiver. B.C. Roy’s premises are swept and washed
crucially on individual benefactors. In 2006-16,
and smell of disinfectant. “We try our best,” a
the infant mortality rate dipped dramatically—
IMR: 44 (Odisha) 25 (WB)
doctor confides. The root cause remains
from 73 to 44. Still among India’s highest. O
Source: NFHS 2015-16, SRS
2 July 2018 OUTLOOK 17