Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu visited the SVRR Government Children’s Hospital here on Monday. During the last four days, the number of the dead in the paediatric ward had hit 25, and over 20 kids are critical. Mr Naidu, accompanied by local party leaders, was initially stopped at the entrance by the hospital authorities saying that such a big crowd would cause infections to infants. However, Mr Naidu retorted, “I was Chief Minister for nine years. I know all these things.”
After this he and his entourage barged into the ICUs. For about two hours, the TD chief interacted with the parents and gave a patient hearing to their woes. He expressed his anger at the medical fraternity’s silence. “When children are dying one after the other like this, what are you doing?” he said. Though Mr Naidu shot many queries at the doctors, they remained silent, giving only one-word answers.
Later, he spoke to the media and squarely blamed the government for the tragedy. “The government has utterly failed the public. It is unfortunate that the paramedical staff was not paid salaries since a long time. There is no oxygen plant or drinking water in this hospital,” he said. The TD chief said that though the hospital was built as a 300-bed facility, there were only 90 beds and no adequate staff.
“The government is just sleeping. It is a tragedy. The children have no value in the eyes of the government. The officials are lying that there is no dengue, but here in this hospital alone, there are 30 cases of dengue,” he said. Mr Chandrabau Naidu came down heavily on local MP Dr Chinta Mohan, for occupying a quarters meant for staffers in the SVRR premises. Mr naidu demanded that Dr Mohan should immediately vacate the quarters and also stop meddling in the hospital’s affairs.
“Neither the Chief Minister nor the Health minister came here. I am going to report the matter to the National Human Rights Commission. Telugu Desam cadres will hold a demo in front of SVRR Hospital till all problems are solved.” Later, Mr Naidu visited the SVIMS hospital and called on some Telugu Desam cadres admitted in the neurology ward for treatment.