Medical board set up for abandoned baby

Thiruvananthapuram: A medical board was constituted for the three-week-old infant, who was abandoned by its parents from Jharkhand in a private hospital ICU and has now been shifted to Ernakulam general hospital.
Health minister Veena George said women and child development (WCD) department would take over the baby's protection. She instructed the hospital superintendent to ensure specialized treatment for the infant. Expenses for its previous treatment at the private hospital would be covered through the child welfare fund as determined by the director of health services, she said.
A team comprising a paediatrician, a nurse trained in special newborn care and an emergency medical technician took the baby to the general hospital. The infant, currently in the special newborn care unit, remains on oxygen support. It weighs 1kg, has a minor brain haemorrhage and oral antibiotic treatment is being continued. Intensive care is required for about a month.
Under the coordination of hospital superintendent Dr Shahirsha R, a special medical board led by paediatrician Dr Viji V will oversee the baby's treatment. Since there are no relatives, nurses from the newborn care unit have been assigned for the baby's special care. Breast milk is being provided from a milk bank.
"District child protection officer from WCD department will visit the baby daily and take necessary actions. If needed, caretakers from the department will also be appointed. If the parents return, the baby will be handed over to them. If the parents decide they no longer want the child, legal proceedings will be initiated for the child welfare committee to take its custody," said the minister.