Karnataka Child Rights Commission Uncovers Serious Lapses in Newborn Record-Keeping at Udupi Hospital
The Karnataka State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KSCPCR) has identified significant deficiencies in newborn record-keeping practices at the Koosamma Shambhu Shetty Haji Abdulla Mother and Child Hospital in Udupi. During a recent inspection, commission chairperson Shashidhar S Kosambe discovered that case sheets for newborns undergoing treatment lacked crucial information, including the names of the children and their parents.
Inspection Reveals Multiple Regulatory Violations
Chairperson Kosambe conducted a thorough examination of the hospital's special newborn care unit and maternal care centre. His inspection revealed that medical officers had failed to maintain registers in accordance with government guidelines. The commission found that the facilities were not scientifically maintained, with inadequate basic infrastructure in both the maternal care unit and breastfeeding area.
"The absence of proper documentation for newborns is a serious violation of child protection protocols," emphasized Kosambe during his visit. He immediately directed doctors to ensure all records were maintained according to established rules and instructed the district surgeon to initiate disciplinary action against the responsible medical officers.
Commission Issues Multiple Directives for Improvement
Beyond the record-keeping issues, Kosambe expressed particular concern about the absence of a nutritional rehabilitation centre (NRC) at the district headquarters. He instructed local medical officers to establish an NRC immediately and held a telephonic discussion with the deputy director of the NRC to expedite the process.
The chairperson also visited the scanning centre at Adarsha Hospital, where he inspected file maintenance, register formats, signboard installations, and other basic facilities. He directed staff to properly maintain files of pregnant women on the government portal using the Balika software system.
Broader Child Protection Initiatives Across Udupi District
Kosambe's inspection tour extended beyond healthcare facilities to include the Brahmavar police station, Handadi gram panchayat office, local schools, and anganwadi centres. During these visits, he mandated that the child helpline number be prominently displayed in all offices and directed that regular children's gram sabha meetings, child protection committee meetings, and education task force meetings be conducted in gram panchayats.
"Comprehensive child protection requires coordination across all community institutions," Kosambe stated, highlighting the interconnected nature of child welfare initiatives.
Commission Members and Officials Participate in Inspection
The inspection was conducted with participation from multiple commission members and district health officials. Dr. Thippeswamy KT, a member of the commission, joined the proceedings along with district health and family welfare officer Dr. Basavaraj Hubballi and district surgeon Dr. Ashok. Their collective presence underscored the seriousness with which the commission approaches child protection violations in healthcare settings.
The KSCPCR's findings highlight systemic issues in newborn care documentation that could potentially compromise child welfare and medical accountability. The commission's directives aim to establish proper protocols for record-keeping, infrastructure maintenance, and broader child protection measures throughout Udupi district.
