Parents accuse Bhandara hospital administration of holding back babies to ‘show off’

NAGPUR: The parents of the seven babies rescued in the January 9 fire incident have accused the Bhandara District General Hospital administration of forcibly holding back the children, to allegedly “show them off” to media and visiting ministers. The Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) at the hospital has had a flurry of VIP visits, including CM Uddhav Thackeray, home minister Anil Deshmukh, public health minister Rajesh Tope, medical education minister Amit Deshmukh and other cabinet ministers.
“I want to shift my twin daughters to a private hospital, if needed, as I don’t have faith in the district hospital anymore. I can’t afford it, but I will sell off my land to keep my daughters alive,” said Dinesh Maroti, a farmer.
Some other parents also said they feel the hospital is unnecessarily keeping the babies admitted. “We were told the babies would be discharged on Saturday. But the tragedy took place and we are now stranded here,” said another father.
They also complained the mother and father were asked to share the bed as new admissions jumped on Monday. The hospital had come to a standstill for last two days after the fire.
Another parent, Umesh Chachere, said ministers are coming daily and the hospital has to show them around. “VIPs are coming everyday and seeing our babies. My wife asked when would they discharge us,” he said.
Chachere’s wife was told that the discharge has been cancelled as of now. “My daughter, born on Jan 7, was doing well. Earlier, some of us were set to be discharged on Saturday,” he said.
Both Maroti and Chachere said the visiting ministers are not talking to them. “The police and hospital staff blocked me from meeting them. If they had met me, I would have asked what I couldn’t tell the CM. I want to ask what is the future of our kids,” said Chachere.
Maroti said the government is only paying attention to those who lost their babies but neglecting those who are alive.
When asked if parents were insisting on discharge, Bhandara district civil surgeon Dr Pramod Khandate said they are likely to be discharged on Tuesday. “Our paediatrician will take a final call on Tuesday. We could have discharged them on Monday, but it is not proper to send them at night. All the 17 were underweight and preterm babies when they were admitted. No baby was forcibly admitted,” he said.