STATE TIMES NEWS
DODA/NOWSHERA: In two incidents, two infants of 18 monts and two and half months died after vaccination in Doda and Nowshera on Thursday.
An 18 month old baby girl whose parents brought her to a pediatric clinic for treatment, died within minutes of receiving injection for common fever and cough. The parents alleged that doctor gave their toddler double dose despite their protest.
As the news of the death of baby girl due to the negligence of pediatric specialist Dr R.S Manhas spread, people gathered outside the clinic and started protesting against the doctor demanding his immediate arrest and suspension.
“We took our 18th month old daughter Sumreena for routine checkup as she was suffering from fever and common cold, Dr Manhas without checking her properly gave her injection resulting into the death of my child within minutes,” alleged Shaheda Begum mother of Sumreena.
“This is not an accident but a deliberate case of negligence and for this doctor should be booked for murder,” Shaheda added.
The parents joined by the villagers and other people gathered in large number with the body of baby girl at old bus stand Doda and started raising slogans against the erring Dr Manhas,CMO and Distt administration.
The police and civil administration had a tough time as the protesters while stoping movement of the traffic were demanding immidiate arrest and suspension of Dr Manhas and also stern action against CMO Doda for his callous attitude.
“Dr Manhas is running his clinic illegally for which Distt administration and CMO are also involved, this is not the first time but third incident when a child has died in his clinic after receiving injection,” said a protester demanding that the doctor should be booked not for negligence but three murder.
After three hours of protest , Distt administration finally ordered the suspension of Dr Manhas and assured that an enquiry will be initiated and the case registered against the erring doctor.
The deceased child has been identified as Sumreena Bano daughter of Abdul Hamid Wani a Resident of Ganika, Doda.
Meanwhile another infant girl has allegedly died after she was administered vaccine. Parents of the girl and their supporters held a protest at Nowshera on Wednesday in which they said that their 2-1/2 months old girl was given vaccine in Sub District Hospital Nowshera during day time and late in the night she died.
Father of the girl Rattan lal resident of Lamberi brought the body of the girl to Sub District Hospital on Thursday and held a protest. Ex-MLC Ravinder Sharma, SHO Nowshera Mohd Bashir and many others reached the spot. Body was sent for the post mortem and Ravinder Sharma pacified the parents that on receipt of the report action will be taken if there was any negligence on the part of hospital staff.
