A week after a seven-year-old boy died of dengue after being denied admission in various hospitals, another six-year-old child Aman from South Delhi has died in a similar manner this Sunday night prompting the state Health Minister Satyendar Jain has summoned administrators of all private hospitals and nursing homes of Delhi "in view of reports of their refusal to admit dengue patients."
Aman's death takes the death toll due to this vector-borne disease to six this season.
On Tuesday, State deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia instructed the Divisional Commissioner of Delhi to depute the local Sub-Divisional Magistrate to conduct a probe and submit the report to the government within seven days.
Mr. Sisodia has directed that it be ascertained why and how the treatment was denied, when there were specific instructions issued to all hospitals of Delhi – whether government or private – that patients suffering from dengue should not be denied admission in hospitals citing lack of beds.
"The inquiry should cover the responsibility of hospitals, particularly those concerned with admissions and treatment. The probe should recommend specific remedial actions to prevent any recurrence of such tragic incidents," he said.
The child’s father Manoj Sharma speaking to The Hindu on Tuesday said, “The child was diagnosed with dengue fever on Thursday and was taken to Safdarjung Hospital. Because the hospital was very crowded we decided to shift him to a private hospital.
“We tried to get admission in Max Saket and Moolchand but were turned away. Finally we got a bed in a private nursing home where they told us on Saturday night that Aman’s condition is deteriorating rapidly and discharged us. The child was rushed to Batra Hospital where he died on Sunday.”
(Deaths till September 5)
Mr. Sisodia's action has come even while senior health officials have warned that dengue numbers will see a sharp rise in October and that this vector borne disease is "only catching steam now."
The city has reported more than 1,800 cases this season till Tuesday and five confirmed deaths (as per official records).
"The numbers have crossed the 2010 figures when the city was the worst hit. The worst, however, is yet to come. "Dengue normally peaks in the second and third week of October, so the numbers are going to go further up,” said Dr. Ekta Gupta, additional professor at the department of virology, Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences.
The 2010 surge of dengue reported 1,695 cases.
Doctors are also blaming the sultry weather for the rise in dengue numbers. Dr. Jagdish Prasad, director general of health services (DGHS), Union health ministry noted that the heightened humidity could be blamed for the upsurge in dengue cases in many states. ``Weather pattern, circulation of different dengue virus strains are important factors that come into play when dealing with dengue numbers and deaths,’’ he said.
In the city, dengue numbers have risen steadily with 613 reported last week compared to 428 the week before and 301 in the end of August. This year’s figures are also considerably higher than last year when 55 cases were reported till the second week of September.
The Delhi government has sought the help of the general public to keep the umbers low. "Dengue mosquito breeds in fresh water, people need to be careful to not let water collect around them,” said health minister Satyendar Jain.
Earlier this month, dengue claimed the life of another child — seven-year-old Avinash — who was denied admission to four hospitals before finally being taken in for treatment at Batra Hospital. He succumbed to the disease on September 8 and his parents committed suicide that same night by jumping off the terrace of their fourth floor residence.
