Diptheria deaths: DCW sends notice to hospital

New Delhi: Taking cognisance of the death of 14 children from diphtheria within 12 days at Maharishi Valmiki Hospital, the Delhi Commission for Women on Monday asked the hospital to provide details of urgent steps taken by it to ensure no more deaths occur due to the disease.

DCW chief Swati Maliwal, on her official Twitter handle, said, "I am deeply disturbed by the deaths of 14 children due to Diphtheria in Delhi. Have issued Notice to the MCD run hospital. Who is responsible for these deaths? What steps have been taken to stop them? Lives of poor don't count or what?"

The Commission also issued a notice to the medical superintendent of the hospital, located in north west Delhi, stating that it has been reported that the children died due to unavailability of anti-diphtheria vaccine, despite the hospital being a specialist centre for the disease.

It was also reported that the patients are being forced to purchase injections from outside, the notice read.

It also stated that media reports are revealing shocking details about the hospital, such as lack of staff, and shortage of operation theatres and ICU.

"It has been reported that the hospital is unable to conduct even a simple process like tracheotomy due to which two children died," the notice stated.

DCW asked the hospital to state reasons for the recent deaths and asked for details of the urgent steps taken by the hospital to ensure that no more deaths occur due to diphtheria.

As of Monday, 19 patients have died of the disease, while over 150 have been admitted.