As many as 296 children have died of encephalitis and other tropical illnesses at the state-run health facility this month
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath apprehended on Wednesday that people might leave toddlers to the government's mercy, a remark that came amid reports of 63 more children dying at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur in the last 72 hours.
"Mujhe aisa lagta hai kahin aisa na ho jaaye ki log apne bachche, jaise hi woh do saal ke hon, sarkar ke bharose chhod de ki ab sarkar unka paalan-poshan kare (I fear that people will leave their children, as soon as they are two years old, to the government to raise)," he said at a function.
As many as 296 children have died of encephalitis and other tropical illnesses at the state-run health facility this month. The hospital hogged international headlines when 31 deaths took place during August 10-11 alone, amid reports of oxygen supplies being snapped due to unpaid bills.
Speaking at the launch of StartUp Bus Yatra in Lucknow, the CM said, "Every day, the media reports about filth, garbage and unhygienic conditions. Should the government alone be blamed for that? Isn't it also the responsibility of the people to keep their surroundings clean?"
He asked the people to understand their duties as well. "Security, safety and care should not be left to the government alone, but they are the responsibilities of the society and its people too," he said.
The acting principal of BRD Medical College, Dr PK Singh, called the deaths normal. He said that the hospital is full of critical infants. "We have 344 beds for children and they are all full with patients suffering from encephalitis, pneumonia and other diseases. These children are coming to the hospital in very critical conditions and die within an hour or two. In August and September, such deaths are reported normally from the hospital," he said.
He said that the hospital has sufficient stocks of medicines and oxygen supplies, and that doctors and hospital staff are providing best medical facilities to children. Encephalitis and other tropical illnesses have claimed some 10,000 lives at the hospital since 1978. It became a national crisis only in 2005 when more than 1,000 children died.
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