Malkangiri: Two newborns died Monday night in the special newborn care unit (SNCU) of the district headquarters hospital here as the temperature suddenly shot up inside the unit following an abrupt breakdown of air-conditioners.
Besides, 12 babies and some hospital staff had a narrow escape after a freezer caught fire following an electric short-circuit in the unit.
It was learnt that the three air-conditioners installed in the SNCU have been lying defunct for three months. Though one of them had been kept on, it used to generate hot breeze to the utter discomfort of patients. The two babies died due to extremely hot condition inside the SNCU, it was alleged.
According to sources, the newborns were kept in the warmer of the unit which should be equipped with round-the-clock air-conditioning facility. However, the humid condition inside the SNCU due to the non-operational ACs was intolerable even for adults, the attendants of the babies alleged.
On the other hand, the freezer of the SNCU suddenly caught fire Monday night after an electric short-circuit. However, a staffer applied his mind and turned off the main switch thereby saving the lives of 12 babies and a few staff. The parents of the newborns were in a state of panic after hearing the mass screaming of the babies and the acrid smell generated by the short-circuit.
ADMO Dr Shashibhusan Mohapatra and the hospital manager rushed to the spot and managed to repair at least one AC to the relief of the babies.
CDMO Dr Udayshankar Mishra said there was no major loss in the mishap except a freezer getting damaged. On the death of two babies, the CDMO said the babies were admitted to the hospital in critical condition and their lives couldn’t be saved despite the best efforts of the attending doctors.
With the latest casualties, the number of deaths in the hospital has increased to seven this month while it is alleged that a flawed management system has led to the situation.
The hospital has no special unit for sunstroke patients who are often treated on the verandah. PNN
