Rajasthan: 10-year-old cancer patient dies after being bitten by rat at govt hospital in Jaipur

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A 10-year-old boy died after reportedly being bitten by a rat on one of his toes while receiving cancer treatment at a government hospital in Jaipur, an official said on Saturday, PTI reported.

While the State Cancer Institute, where the boy was admitted on December 11, claimed that the death was caused by "septicaemia shock and high infection" and not a rat bite, the Rajasthan government has launched a committee to investigate the matter.

As per PTI, the hospital superintendent Dr Sandeep Jasuja said, "The child also had fever and pneumonia. He died due to high infection septicaemia shock on Friday".

Medical education secretary Ambrish Kumar has requested a report from the principal of Sawai Man Singh (SMS) Medical College, which is affiliated with the State Cancer Institute, PTI sources said.

According to a news report published in a vernacular daily, the infant began crying soon after being admitted. When his family members lifted the blanket he was laying under, they saw blood flowing from one of his toes as a result of a rat bite, PTI cited.

The family members notified the nursing staff present, who bandaged the leg after applying first aid.

Jasuja stated that they treated the child as soon as they learnt about the rat bite. He stated that directions have been sent to guarantee cleanliness on the hospital premises, PTI cited.

Mumbai: Following mid-day report, Aarey Hospital's renovation begins

Following a mid-day report highlighting the poor condition of Aarey Hospital, which is managed by the Animal Husbandry and Dairy Development Department, renovation work commenced with an estimated budget of Rs 1.10 crore.

An official from the department, speaking anonymously, said, "We have started the repair work at Aarey Hospital. The project includes plastering the internal and external walls, installing doors and windows with safety grills and renovating the flooring. Also, upgrades will be made to the toilet block, stormwater drainage system and water supply pipeline, along with terrace waterproofing. We aim to complete the work within the next three to four months."

On October 18, mid-day in a report, ‘Aarey dairy punished, asked to submit a plan for improving hospital', highlighted how there was only one doctor for a population of one lakh within Aarey Milk Colony. On October 21, the commission issued directives to the department to deposit Rs 50,000 in the chief minister's relief fund within four weeks for failing to submit its plans for improving health services and facilities at Aarey Hospital.

The directives were issued while hearing a case pertaining to a 2022 mid-day report which shed light on the dire state of Aarey Hospital. The State Human Rights Commission (SHRC) had taken a suo motu cognisance of the 2022 report and sought details from the department to improve services at the health facility.

(With inputs from PTI)