12 Children Given Hand Sanitizer Instead Of Polio Drops; 3 Nurses Suspended

Representational image; courtesy: The Economic Times

Yavatmal: In a major goof-up, as many as 12 kids were given hand sanitisers instead of oral polio vaccine drops at a Primary Health Centre in Ghatanji’s Kapsi-Kopari village here on Monday, the officials said.

The district health authorities took cognisance of the matter and suspended three nurses after a preliminary investigation late on Monday.

The incident happened on Sunday when more than 2,000 small children aged 1-5 years had come with their parents for the polio vaccination programme under the national immunization drive, reported news agency IANS.

Officials said that some of the kids were administered oral drops of sanitisers instead of the polio drops after which many complained of nausea, cramps and started throwing up, creating panic among the parents and health officials.

Children — aged between 1-5 years — were rushed to the Vasantrao Naik Government Medical College & Hospital for further treatment.

“All the children are now stable and improving. They are being kept under constant observation. Depending on their condition, we shall consider discharging them on Tuesday evening,” VNGMCH Dean Dr Milind Kamble was quoted as saying by IANS.

Yavatmal Collector M Devender Singh paid a visit to the hospital on Sunday night and enquired about the children’s condition.

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