Suhail Bhat
Srinagar, Oct 4: In absence of childcare centres in Jammu and Kashmir, a baby suffering from neurological ailment who was abandoned by his parents is lying at GB Pant hospital here from last six months.
The baby namely, Salman, was born with Frontal Encephalocele, a neurological disorder wherein the fluid in the brain expands and put pressure on the cranium to prevent fatality and doctors believe that fear of expensive surgery might have forced their parents to abandon him.
As per the hospital records, on January 24 at 10.46 am a male baby was brought to NICU by police in hypothermic condition. “Baby had been found at a shrine of Sheikh Hamza Muqdoom Sahab. The baby was handed over to the Registrar on duty in NICU for further management. Baby was admitted in NICU under MRD No. 18159/ III-A with diagnosis of Encephalocele root of nose with left Porencephalic Cyst,” the records read.
Early investigations show dilated Ventricles with large cystic lesion (15 cm) in left temporal lobe of brain (Porencephalic cyst). The record reads that MRI of the brain was done which confirmed the diagnosis. “The baby was thriving well and is seven months old as on today and is admitted in Nutritional Rehablitation Centre of the Hospital,” it reads.
The GB Pant doctors said the hospital administration investigated the baby for treatment of birth defects and two MRIs were conducted. After a series of consultations a neurosurgery was felt necessary to reduce the intra- cranial pressure, the doctors said. “The baby was operated a few days back and is presently in the Intensive Care Unit and is taken care of by the hospital staff,” he added.
Medical Superintendent of GB Pant Hospital, Dr. K.K. Pandita, told Excelsior the hospital was taking care of the baby for past seven months which they were not supposed to do it otherwise. “We are doing it purely on the humanitarian basis. We are here to provide prenatal and post natal services but due to nonavailability of any adoption or childcare centre we have to take care of such children as well,” he added
He further stressed that the adoption process need to be overhauled. “It’s not we do not have interested families but the adoption process is back breaking. Families have to hire lawyers who can plead their cases which might be expensive and therefore discourages the families,” he said.
Dr Rihana Mehjabeen, who takes care of Salman, told Excelsior: “We may feed and wash the baby but he requires lots of other things as well like clothes, caps etc. Presently our staff take care of such things.”
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