Thaindian News

Hyderabad, May 5 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh State Human Rights Commission Thursday sought a report from the state government over the death of an eight-year-old girl due to lack of rabies vaccine at a government-run hospital.

Taking a suo motu note of the incident that took place at Rajahmundry town in East Godavari district, the rights panel asked the state health authorities to submit a report before May 18.

The commission has asked the principal secretary, health, the district medical and health officer as well as the superintendent of the Rajahmundry government hospital to submit the report on the incident.

Earlier, the East Godavari District Collector M. Ravichandra also ordered a probe into the incident. He ordered joint collector Rama Rao to conduct a thorough probe into the allegations that the negligence by the hospital authorities led to the girl’s death.

Anusha was bitten by a dog at the Satellite City on the outskirts of Rajahmundry on March 15. Her father Srinivas Reddy, who works in a footwear shop, took her to government hospital, where the medical staff informed them that rabies vaccine is not available and asked them to come after a few days.

Anusha’s mother Laxmi said they could not afford five doses of the vaccine in a private hospital costing Rs.2,000 and had no option but to wait. After a few days, she took the girl again to the government hospital but were told that it would take more time for the vaccine to be available.

Anusha, meanwhile, developed symptoms of viral infection. She was rushed to hospital when her condition deteriorated and she died the next day.

The incident highlights the state of affairs in government-run hospitals in various districts. Though most towns report dog bite cases every day, hospitals either have few doses of the rabies vaccine or none at all.