West Bengal has been witnessing an alarming rise in the number of dengue cases and the death toll due to the vector-borne disease has been equally concerning. Amid the casualties was a 33-year-old woman who died just a week after giving birth. Her husband has accused three Kolkata hospitals of negligence.
Payel Nandi gave birth to a baby boy on August 26 at the Matri Bhavan Hospital. According to her husband Rakesh Basu, she was doing fine after delivery, but contracted a fever the next day. The doctors reportedly told the couple that such fevers after delivery are normal.
But the couple were in for a shock the next day when doctors told them that Payel had contracted dengue fever. Her husband Rakesh told News18 that the hospital authorities said they could not keep Payel there. “She was forcefully discharged,” he said.
Rakesh then took Payel to the private Iris Hospital in Kolkata. He alleged that there, too, his wife was not given the proper treatment, following which he shifted her on August 31 to Peerless Hospital.
Payel died at the hospital after her condition deteriorated on September 2, leaving behind her seven-day-old son.
“The doctors said she would be monitored 24×7. She was taken to the ICU, but even then she succumbed. They said she had capillary failure, but I am sure they were negligent. I could have given blood or anything else, but they acted very late. When I admitted her here, they said she would be okay. But proper attention was not given. I need justice. I will go to court,” Rakesh, who first met Payel 19 years ago, told News18. His newborn son is currently being looked after by Payel’s parents.
When contacted, Dr Sudipto Mitra of Peerless Hospital, told News18: “This death is very unfortunate, especially because she gave birth. We tried our level best. She had anaemia and dengue. She was in a bad state when we received her. If the family wants to complain, they can reach out to National Medical Commission.”
The Matri Bhavan declined to comment citing an internal investigation into the death.
Speaking to News18, Associate Professor of Infectious Diseases at IPGMER-SSKM Hospital in Kolkata, Dr Yogiraj Roy, called for more awareness amid rising dengue cases in the state.
“Now we are at the peak of dengue. If this continues for one more month, there will be pressure on the availability of beds. We have to be alert as by the time patients are brought in, they are in a bad state. More awareness is needed.”
On Tuesday, chief secretary HK Dwivedi had claimed that the number of cases was declining and there were 2,000 people infected with the disease. He said the situation would improve within a couple of weeks and urged people not to panic.
On Monday, the state government had issued a series of measures to control the spread of the diseases. It also directed officials in the districts to immediately clean all dengue hotspots, based on entomological alerts. It also cautioned people of strict legal action in case they are found not following the measures.
The districts were also asked to carry out special drives in the peri-urban areas for improvement of sanitation and waste management. A decision was also taken to conduct an orientation programme of the newly-elected members of the Panchayati Raj Institutions.
Leaves of all the officials/staff associated with dengue management programme in the state has also been cancelled till the situation normalises.
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