Lucknow: Policemen, health workers botch up baby girl rescue

LUCKNOW: Maggots were found in the private parts of a four-day-old girl who was spotted in an undergrowth along the road in Mohanlalganj area on Saturday, but put on ventilator support at a private hospital in the city only on Sunday.
Doctors said the abandoned newborn was grappling with bloodstream infection and the next 72 hours were crucial for her.
The child welfare committee has summoned policemen and health workers concerned on Monday to inquire into the alleged failure to follow protocol and consequent delay in providing her proper medical attention.
Local villagers heard a baby crying and found the girl in the bushes on Saturday evening. They informed Mohanlalganj police who allegedly took her to the community health centre instead of a hospital equipped to care for newborns.
The health centre referred her to a well-equipped hospital, but she was taken to a government hospital in Kaiserbagh that is lacking in life support systems. A health worker associated with NGO Asha, identified as Savitri, dialled Childline at 1098 from the hospital and allegedly vanished.
On Sunday, the baby's condition deteriorated because the government hospital had no ventilator. She was finally admitted to a private hospital in Dalibagh by Childline.
"The girl is a preemie and underweight. We removed around 30 maggots from her private parts. There were also insect bite marks on her legs and forehead. She has bloodstream infection and the next 72 hours are crucial for her," said Dr Mirza Waqar Beg at the Dalibagh hospital.
Member of child welfare committee Sangeeta Sharma said the station house officer of Mohanlalganj police station and Asha worker Savitri had been summoned for questioning. "They were not following protocol. Childline should have been informed first about the abandoned baby. Their negligence in handling the case may be responsible for the baby's condition," she added.
Mohanlalganj SHO Gaudin Shukla said, "We received an information about the baby around 6.30pm (Saturday) and immediately took her to the health centre and then to a state hospital along with a woman constable and an Asha worker. We are trying to locate her parents."