A four-month-old girl allegedly suffering from malnutrition died in Satna, Madhya Pradesh, while her twin brother remains in intensive care. The case has exposed significant lapses in rural health monitoring after the siblings were treated by a quack for 15 days.
Details of the Case
The infants, Supriya alias Priyanshi and Naitik, were born on December 21, 2025, in Pathra village, Majhgawan, weighing just 2 kg and below. Despite being high-risk, they were never enrolled in a Nutrition Rehabilitation Centre (NRC).
For two weeks, the twins suffered from vomiting, fever, and diarrhoea. Instead of being taken to a hospital, they were treated by a quack in Jugulpur for nearly 15 days.
On April 21, they were brought to Majhgawan health centre severely malnourished. Naitik weighed 2.93 kg and was dehydrated, while Supriya weighed 2.86 kg. They were referred to Satna district hospital and admitted to the pediatric ICU. As the girl's condition worsened the next day, both were referred to the medical college in Rewa. The girl died soon after referral, while the boy continues to undergo treatment.
Root Causes
Officials reported that the infants were fed cow and goat milk because their mother was too weak to breastfeed. The family lacked guidance on infant nutrition. This was the mother's fourth delivery; one child had died earlier.
A joint health and Women and Child Development (WCD) report flagged multiple failures. Although the twins were registered on the nutrition tracker and given birth vaccinations, they missed follow-ups. Regular home visits were not conducted. Field staff failed to ensure timely referrals, as the children remained ill with the quack for 15 days. Mandatory NRC admission for low birth weight was also skipped.
Accountability
The report holds the supervisor and Auxiliary Nurse Midwife (ANM) accountable for poor monitoring. Action has been confirmed against the anganwadi worker.
Block Medical Officer Dr. Rupesh Soni filed an FIR on April 22 against quack Premlal Anuragi of Jugulpur. A raid at his clinic revealed he operated without a licence, used restricted medicines, and disposed of medical waste improperly. Medicines were seized, and the clinic was sealed.
Broader Concerns
Majhgawan has seen repeated malnutrition cases, raising concerns over grassroots healthcare and nutrition awareness. The incident underscores the urgent need for improved monitoring, timely referrals, and better nutrition guidance for families in rural areas.
