Naseema sobbed while recounting how she had to wait for nearly three hours for the staff at the Primary Health Centre at D.J. Halli to treat her four-year-old son Nawaz. She claimed that Nawaz, who weighed 9.8 kg and had cerebral palsy, passed away due to pneumonia that was reportedly compounded by malnutrition, on Friday.
Ironically, on Saturday, a programme to create awareness about nutrition was organised just opposite the PHC in D.J. Halli.
Ms. Naseema, who attended the programme, alleged that the PHC and the staff failed to recognise the emergency, as a result of which she lost her son.
On hearing her travails, MLA Akhanda Srinivasa Murthy, directed the District Health Officer to ensure that the PHC functioned properly, besides initiating action against the negligent staff, a press release said.
This is not the first such case in D.J. Halli.
In July 2013, six-year-old Meghala died after having contracted pneumonia that was compounded by malnutrition. Following this, promises of setting up a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC) were made and a board was also put up at the PHC. However, the NRC was not established and the board was eventually taken down. The government has proposed to set up a new NRC at K.G. Halli now.
The Movement For Basic Rights-D.J. Halli, a group formed by rights activists, have now demanded a functional NRC. “If it is to be established in K.G. Halli, an ambulance should be available for transporting residents from nearby areas to the centre,” members of the group said.
They have also demand a fully functional PHC at D.J. Halli with properly trained and paid personnel, adequate medicines and equipment, setting up of 40 new Anganwadi centres that were promised after Meghala’s death, and issuing Anthyodaya/ BPL cards to all families with severely and acutely malnourished children.
The group has also demanded action against the PHC staff, besides completion of disability survey and issue of disability cards.
