Kolkata: Nail stuck in eye, eight-year-old turned away by five hospitals before CM Mamata Banerjee's intervention

Eight-year-old boy with a nail in his eye was rescued by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee after he was refused treatment from five government-run hospitals in Kolkata. 

A resident of Jibantala in South 24 Parganas, Karim Mollah, was playing in an under construction building when a nail pierced one his eyes. Despite excruciating pain, his family had to take him from one hospital to another while they allegedly refuse \to take up his, case that is untill CM intervened. 

"As blood started oozing profusely from his eye, his family rushed him to Canning sub division hospital in the district. The boy was however referred to Calcutta National Medical College and Hospital in Park Circus where he was denied admission. Karim was referred to SSKM Hospital, the lone state government-run super speciality hospital in south Kolkata.

"He was again refused admission before being sent to nearby Bangur Institute of Neurology. His ordeal continued as he was again referred to the Regional Institute of Opthalmology at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital from where he was sent to Nil Ratan Sircar Medical College and Hospital (NRSMCH), which also denied him admission initially," a report said. 

NRSMCH authorities finally admitted the boy after repeated requests by Karim's family. The doctors conducted a 3D CT Scan on Karim to examine if his brain had also suffered damage. A previous CT Scan had revealed marks of injuries on the frontal lobe of his brain. 

The nail has been removed from his left eye with a surgery. Karim’s condition is stable now but doctors are not sure if he would get his vision back. 

As the news of refusal of admission reached the government, chief minister Mamata Banerjee intervened and reportedly expressed her concern. The chief minister’s Office sent a team of NGO officials to NRSMCH to coordinate with Karim’s family and the hospital authorities. According to sources, the state health department has decided to investigate the negligence by the five government-run hospitals.