Gaya Civil Surgeon Denies Protocol Violation in Anti-Filarial Drug Incident
Civil surgeon Raja Ram Prasad on Wednesday firmly denied any violation of medical protocol in the administration of anti-filarial drugs to children above two years of age in Gaya district. This statement came in response to reports suggesting that nearly a dozen children from Chotka Karasan Middle School in Imamganj block fell ill after receiving the medication on an empty stomach.
Incident Details and Official Response
According to reports reaching district headquarters, the anti-filarial drug was administered to middle school children on Monday as part of an ongoing campaign. Within one hour of receiving the preventive medicine, several children began complaining of symptoms including stomach ache, nausea, and vomiting. The children were immediately transported to the local primary health centre for medical treatment.
Civil surgeon Raja Ram Prasad confirmed the incident of children falling ill but attributed it to rare individual reactions to the medicine rather than protocol violations. "The children fell ill because their bodies could not cope with the medicine, and in rare cases this may happen," Prasad explained. "There was absolutely no violation of the protocol."
Campaign Background and Additional Information
The anti-filarial drug administration campaign has been ongoing in the district since February 11. Prasad emphasized that no similar complaints have been received from any other locations within the district during this campaign period. He also challenged the reported numbers, stating that the figure of about a dozen children falling ill was exaggerated.
"As per my information, only three to four children fell ill, and all of them have now been discharged from medical care," the civil surgeon clarified.
Prasad further explained the precautionary measures in place, noting that medical teams engaged in the campaign carry biscuits to ensure that the drug is not administered on an empty stomach, directly addressing concerns about administration timing.
Political Criticism and Accountability Demands
Despite the official explanations, Radhe Shyam Prasad, former leader of HAM(S), has raised concerns about accountability. He alleged that instead of attempting to cover up the incident, officials should acknowledge any mistakes and take disciplinary action against those responsible for administering the drug.
The incident has highlighted the delicate balance between public health initiatives and proper medical protocol implementation, particularly when involving children in preventive medicine campaigns.
