Tragedy Strikes as Tribal Girl Dies in Godda Hospital
A 12-year-old tribal girl from Pakdiya village in Boarijor block died under tragic circumstances at Sadar Hospital in Godda on Wednesday, sparking serious allegations of medical negligence from her grieving family.
Reshma Besra, daughter of Dilip Besra, was admitted to the government healthcare facility on Wednesday morning with high fever but passed away by evening, leaving her family devastated and demanding answers.
Family's Harrowing Account of Medical Neglect
According to family sources, the hospital staff provided prescriptions and test recommendations but allegedly left the young girl unattended after admission. While Reshma remained in the hospital ward under the care of only an auxiliary nurse midwife (ANM), her family members were forced to rush between private laboratories in the market to complete the recommended tests.
"By the time all reports were collected from the private labs in the evening, Reshma passed away," the heartbroken father told reporters.
The family faced additional hardships as medicines worth Rs 3,200 prescribed by Sadar Hospital doctors were unavailable at the hospital pharmacy, compelling them to purchase from private medical shops. They also had to pay Rs 6,000 for a CT scan conducted outside the hospital since the facility wasn't available at the government health center.
Hospital's Response and Official Investigation
Following the incident, the family accused the on-duty doctor and ANM of attempting to create an appearance that the girl was being referred to the ICU after her death.
Civil Surgeon of Godda, C K Sharma, confirmed to media that he has sought clarification from three doctors of the hospital regarding the negligence allegations. However, Sharma presented a different perspective on the case.
"The girl was suffering from an advanced stage of malaria with low platelet count and haemoglobin, signifying she was brought to the Sadar Hospital in a very critical condition," Sharma stated.
The official maintained that medicines were provided to the girl from the hospital, though he acknowledged that the CT scan was conducted externally due to unavailability of the facility at the health center.
Broader Implications for Healthcare in Tribal Areas
This tragic incident has raised serious questions about the state of healthcare facilities in tribal regions of Jharkhand, particularly the quality of emergency medical services available to vulnerable communities.
The case highlights the persistent challenges faced by tribal families in accessing adequate medical care and the additional financial burdens they often bear despite seeking treatment at government healthcare facilities.
As the investigation continues, the family of Reshma Besra awaits justice and accountability, hoping that no other family has to endure similar trauma due to alleged medical negligence in the future.
