Heat wave taking a toll on newborns

Visakhapatnam: Heat wave taking a toll on the health of newborns and infants at King George Hospital and Victoria General Hospital as the authorities failed to provide uninterrupted power supply as per the guidelines.Situation in 100-year-old Victoria General Hospital, popularly known as Gosha Hospital, the first Women and Child Care Hospital in the region, is bad. Mostly women from the poorer sections get admitted to this hospital for deliveries. The hospital is also known for controlling infant mortality and maternal deaths.

Highlights:

• Women and attendants cry foul over hospital administration for frequent power cuts
• Vasu, an attendant, who has been visiting daily since 15 days, says that power goes off for three hours every day and this has been happening since 15 days
• T Kameshwari, postpartum at pediatric ward, said that there is only one fan for six patients and that, too, does not work properly. She showed the wet cloth that she uses to clean her baby during power cuts

But contrary to claims of the government, the neo-natal mothers and newborn babies are facing a hell due to frequent power cuts, which are unbearable in the present climatic condition.Prameela, a postpartum and resident of Akkayapalem, told this correspondent on Wednesday that the feeding room is like a furnace where there are no fans working and it becomes dark when the power is gone at ST Mary Block located in the first floor of the building. “We should thank the nature as a tree besides the building gives us air to breathe in this humid situations", she said.

Vasu, an attendant, who has been visiting daily since 15 days, says that power goes off for three hours every day and this has been happening since 15 days. Backup power is given only to the reception and doctor chambers but not to the patient wards.

“We have no choice but to use the traditional hand fans,’’ Vasu said. Hospital superintendent Dr Padma Leela said the hospital has two 50 kilo watts generators at St Mary Block and Simmons Block, but the power is given only to the baby warmers and baby photo thermionic wards which are vital for the child care treatment. But, during the power cut the mothers are advised to take out their babies within the premises at first floor and feed them.

She said Principal Secretary Poonam Malakondaiah had sanctioned Rs 28 lakh for power management in the hospital and they have been waiting for those funds.The situation is equally bad in King George Hospital. While Ministers Ganta Srinivasa Rao, Ch Ayyanna Patrudu and AP Mahila Commissioner Chairperson Nannapneni Rajakumari launched color codes as there was no fans in the next room.

T Kameshwari, postpartum at pediatric ward, said that there is only one fan for six patients and that, too, does not work properly. She showed the wet cloth that she uses to clean her baby during power cuts. Dr Somayajulju, a senior pediatrician, said air conditioners are being used only in operation theatres and other child care units, but no ACs were installed in the wards due to lack of funds.

By Phani Suni