Tribal girl dies within minutes of being administered tablet at Anganwadi centre

Tragedy struck at Tadepalli Anganwadi centre in Maredumilli Mandal, Alluri Sitarama Raju district, on February 10, when a five-year-old girl choked and died immediately after being administered an Albendazole tablet. The victim, Kattula Rashmitha, belonged to the Konda Reddi tribe, a Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group, in Andhra Pradesh. 

“The Tadepalli Anganwadi teacher administered an Albendazole tablet to Rashmitha during a special drive on the campus on Monday. Within 10 minutes, the girl complained of nausea and vomiting. Later, she was declared brought-dead at the Government Area Hospital in Rampachodavaram,” ASR District Collector A.S. Dinesh Kumar told The Hindu.

“The girl choked to death. Administering of the tablet by an Anganwadi teacher is a violation of the existing protocol. It should have been administered by an Auxiliary Nurse Midwife,” said Mr. Dinesh Kumar. 

“The servant (aayah), Anganwadi teacher and ICDS supervisor have been suspended. An inquiry is under way. The victim’s kin will be offered government aid,” he added.  

On the other hand, Minister of Women, Child Welfare and Tribal Welfare Minister Gummadi Sandhyarani has reportedly ordered a detailed probe into the incident. She did not respond to calls for a comment.