Budaun (Uttar Pradesh): In a tragic development, as many as four infants died at birth in a single night at a primary health centre (PHC) in Uttar Pradesh's Budaun district, following which family members accused the authorities of bribery.
According to reports, as many as four infants died at birth at the Islamnagar PHC in the last one night alone. The kin of the deceased have accused the authorities of taking a bribe and also forcing them to buy medicines from outside.
Jender Pal, a resident of Girdharpur village had brought his pregnant wife Anita to the PHC on an ambulance. After an hour of labour, the woman delivered a baby boy, but the infant soon died. The couple said the nurse's behaviour was not good and alleged that she charged them Rs 400 as service fee.
Similarly, Alinagar resident Anita too delivered a baby boy who died soon after being born. The woman's husband Jitendra alleged that the nurse charged them Rs 1,500, and asked them to get all medicines from outside.
Another woman Kusum, from Balpur village, blamed the authorities for their lax attitude as her son too died soon after birth. Her husband Umesh alleged that the nurse charged them Rs 1,200. Finally, Mala from Sakhamai village too lost her son during the birth itself last night.
According to sources, the auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM) at the PHC has already retired, but is still helping in deliveries. Sources further said that the actual number of infant deaths was higher at the PHC, but the authorities were not registering them in the records to avoid getting caught by higher-ups.
Further, sources revealed that the PHC's medical officer would often work from home and not visit the centre at all. Even last night, when four infants died, the officer was not at the PHC, they said.
Meanwhile, officials have reportedly ordered for a magisterial probe into the matter.
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