The Lok Ayukta of Andhra Pradesh, Justice B. Subhashan Reddy, has taken up the issue of a newborn child suffering with diabetes and the inability of its parents to provide necessary treatment suo motu earlier this week.
‘Save child’
It also directed the State government to come to the rescue of the child.
Based on media reports that the baby boy was born with 500 mg sugar level at birth to a poor couple from Karimnagar district on January 29 and the parents were not able to bear the costs for injecting insulin to the baby periodically to regulate the blood sugar level, the Lok Ayukta directed the government to render all necessary help to the child.
Intervention sought
The judge observed: “It is a fittest case where the government has to intervene to save the child and he should not be allowed to die simply because his parents can’t afford the treatment.
“Economic disability should not cripple or kill the child and the government has all the responsibility to help him out.
Expenses
The Lok Ayukta also directed the District Medical & Health Officer and district Collector of Karimnagar to take care of the child with all necessary financial and nutritional expenses.
Under treatment
DM&HO Dr. K. Nageswar Rao, who appeared before Lok Ayukta on Friday, submitted that the
child was under the care of Dr. Hima Bindu Singh, Professor of Paediatrics, Neonatal Department of Niloufer Hospital
here.
Appreciating the steps taken by the District Medical and Health Officer (DM&HO), the Lok Ayukta directed the Superintendent of Niloufer Hospital to submit status report on the child on March 1.
