Berhampur: Kandhamal administration on Friday suspended an assistant superintendent of a residential school in Budrukia, Baliguda block, following the death of a seven-year-old hostel inmate on Wednesday.
“Nakhetramala Sahu, the hostel’s assistant superintendent, was suspended for alleged negligence in admitting the child to the hospital after she was found suffering from malaria,” said Ashish Ishwar Patil, Kandhamal collector.
The deceased was identified as Mita Mallick, a class II student at the school in Sarukoi village. “On Tuesday, a health team conducted a routine check-up and found she was suffering from malaria. The day after, her body temperature increased, and she was taken to a hospital in Baliguda, where the doctors declared her dead,” said Rabindra Mishra, district welfare officer.
He said after Mallick was diagnosed with malaria, the assistant superintendent, in the superintendent’s absence, should have referred her to the hospital in Baliguda. “However, in this case, she neglected her duty. The community health officer (CHO) who conducted the health check-up of the deceased should have tested her for anaemia and referred her to the hospital upon detecting malaria,” said Mishra.
The project administrator of the Integrated Tribal Development Agency, the district welfare officer, and the sub-divisional medical officer in Baliguda jointly conducted an inquiry into the cause of the student’s death on Thursday. After receiving an inquiry report on Friday, the administration has also transferred the hostel’s matron and asked the chief district medical officer (CDMO) to issue a show cause notice to the CHO.

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