A fresh wave of alarm has swept across Madhya Pradesh's public health system after a new video surfaced showing rodents freely roaming inside a critical Sick Newborn Care Unit (SNCU). This incident in Satna comes just days after similar disturbing visuals from Jabalpur's Victoria Hospital triggered public outrage over hygiene standards in government medical facilities.
Viral Video Exposes Grim Reality in Neonatal Ward
The latest video, believed to be two days old, was reportedly filmed inside the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel Government District Hospital in Satna–Maihar district. The footage paints a horrifying picture: rats are seen moving around the sensitive neonatal unit. In one clip, a rodent emerges from under a computer monitor with food in its mouth, scurries over a WiFi router, while others are seen nibbling at wires and vital medical equipment.
This SNCU typically houses around 40 critically ill newborns at any given time, making the infestation an extreme health hazard. The incident mirrors a similar scandal at Jabalpur's Victoria Hospital last week, where a viral video showed rats near a patient's bed in the orthopaedic ward, even feeding from a tiffin box.
A State Healthcare System Under Dual Scrutiny
The rodent menace has emerged at a time when the Satna hospital's blood bank is already under a dark cloud. A state-level investigation is currently underway into the alleged transfusion of HIV-infected blood to six children with Thalassaemia. Health officials suspect contaminated blood was the source of infection in at least five of these cases, involving children aged 3 to 15 years.
This is not an isolated issue. The state's healthcare infrastructure faced severe criticism earlier this year when two newborns at Indore's MY Hospital died in August and September, allegedly after rat bites. Although the hospital denied a direct link, the tragedies intensified scrutiny on pest control protocols.
Official Response and Alleged Lapses
Following the viral video from Satna, hospital authorities have reiterated their pest control measures. Dr. Manoj Shukla, Chief Medical and Health Officer of Satna, told TOI that rat traps are installed and pest control is routine. He acknowledged the challenge of an old building and promised priority action. "Fresh instructions have been issued to ensure appropriate pest control," he added.
However, sources indicate possible protocol breaches, with the presence of food items inside the SNCU office attracting rodents. This suggests staff may be consuming food on the premises, violating hygiene norms.
In Jabalpur, corrective actions were announced by Civil Surgeon Dr. Navneet Kothari. These include installing grills in toilet holes, instructing night-duty nurses to ensure patients do not keep food uncovered, and placing rat traps. Ongoing construction on the hospital premises is also being monitored to prevent infestation.
The consecutive scandals have sparked urgent demands for stricter monitoring, especially in high-risk zones like neonatal and paediatric wards. They raise profound questions about the systemic failures in maintaining basic hygiene and safety standards in Madhya Pradesh's public healthcare institutions, already reeling from the HIV blood transfusion probe.
