Gurugram: 25 April
The newborn care unit set up early this year in Civil Hospital in Sector 10, has turned out to be non- functional in the absence of doctors.
The Convener of Manav Awaaj, Advocate Abhay Jain and Spokesperson, Banwari Lal Saini told that officially, it has been about four months since the newborn care unit was started but in the absence of the appointment of doctors, it has become a mere formality. In the times of emergency, the unit without doctors can prove fatal for newborn babies.
Ironically, the newborn care unit has been left to the nurses to manage. It may be mentioned that on November 26, 2018, PMO of Sector 10 Civil Hospital had written a letter to Civil Surgeon, Gurugram, demanding to appoint three Medical Officers (Doctors) and one Child specialist to run the newborn care unit in an organised manner but these appointments have not been done so far.
The infants in the newborn care units need to be looked after seriously as they are sensitive to infections. They face danger of contracting jaundice, dysentery, vomiting, cold and flu. Besides they complain of skin, respiratory, stomach problems besides being anemic and under weight. Keeping this in mind, the appointment of doctors and child specialists is of utmost importance.
It is not just the newborn care unit but the entire hospital is suffering from the shortage of doctors, and other staff. There are 55 sanctioned posts of doctors but only 34 are filled up. There is also huge shortage of nurses in the hospital. Out of total 90 sanctioned posts, only 21 nurses are working here. All the 14 sanctioned posts of laboratory technicians and 6 sanctioned posts of Radiographers are lying vacant. Only 2 of the 10 sanctioned posts of Operation Theater Assistants have been filled up. Similarly, the situation with regard to other staff is equally alarming.
In view of this, Manav Awaaj has written a letter to Haryana Chief Minister, Manohar Lal Khattar, requesting him to give necessary directions to health department to ensure that vacant posts of doctors in the newborn care unit are filled up without delay and the issue of overall shortage of staff in the hospital is addressed on priority so that along with new born children, the other patients in the hospital may also get proper treatment and care.
