Two-day-old baby suffers rashes due to cockroach infestation at Vanivilas hospital

BENGALURU: A two-day-old baby at Vanivilas Hospital had to suffer due to alleged cockroach bites and sustained rashes all over the body. Now, the parents of the newborn are claiming that there is cockroach infestation in the wards of the hospital and that it is not kept clean.

The child’s mother Asharani, a resident of Nagarabavi, was admitted to Vanivilas Hospital two days ago and gave birth to a baby boy. On Friday evening, the parents saw cockroaches running around the bed where the child was sleeping, and they cleaned the place. When they examined the child, they realised that he had been bitten by cockroaches. In addition, many cockroaches were found on the floor of the maternity ward and in the child’s inner clothes.

The parents said they brought the issue to the attention of the hospital authorities, but there was no response. The woman and her child were discharged from the hospital on Saturday morning, and they expressed outrage against the negligence and inaction of the hospital management.

When Public TV contacted Vanivilas Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr M S Savitha on phone regarding the complaint, she refused to to admit that it was cockroach bites. Instead, she termed it as an allergy from a new sweater that was used to cover the child. The patient’s attendants brought food parcels and other eatables into the wards and that is the reason why cockroaches increased, she reasoned.

In videos, it can be seen that the ward is looking unhygienic, with cockroaches running over the wall, the floor and bedsheets in the wards. A hospital should take utmost care to maintain a hygienic atmosphere for newborns and the mother during the postpartum period.

After the poor sanitation at Vanivilas Hospital came to light, the management decided to serve a notice to the housekeeping vendor company for poor maintenance of the wards. The governing body has also sought clarification and issued a notice by Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Savita. The government has outsourced the housekeeping to Hygenic Feast Company.