Midnapore: A pregnant woman died on Friday at the Midnapore Medical College and Hospital in West Bengal’s Paschim Midnapore. The family members of the deceased raised serious concerns about the saline given to the woman. The deceased has been identified as Mamoni Das. Meanwhile, five others are critically ill. A 10-member enquiry committee was formed by the West Bengal Health Department.

The committee will reportedly visit the hospital on Saturday. The action was taken after the family of the deceased lodged a complaint with the police. Meanwhile, the health department directed the authorities to replace all the existing saline stock. A detailed report has also been sought from the principal of the medical college. The state health officials also demanded an explanation on reports of using expired saline.

The woman gave birth to a baby on Wednesday. She was shifted to the intensive care unit (ICU) after her condition deteriorated. Das breathed her last on Friday. She was 21 years old. The incident drew strong criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) in the state.

The saffron party raised questions on the health facilities under the Mamata Banerjee government in the state. “Shame on the crumbling healthcare system in West Bengal under the disastrous regime of @MamataOfficial! A pregnant woman DIED after being given EXPIRED saline at a govt hospital in Midnapore, and several others now fight for their lives,” the BJP said in its official X post.

This is the price mothers pay under your so-called “development”? Your negligence has turned hospitals into death traps! West Bengal deserves accountability, not your hollow promises and PR stunts. How much more blood will stain your hands, @MamataOfficial?” it added.

The husband of a critically ill woman told the media house that Das stopped passing out urine after giving birth to the baby and was then shifted to the ICU. He alleged that the medical college staff gave the wrong saline.

A large police contingent has reportedly been deployed outside the hospital to avoid any untoward incident.

Lucknow: Muzaiburrahman Bablu, former city president of the Samajwadi Party (SP), died by suicide at his residence in Maulviganj, around 10:30 AM on Friday. The SP leader, who had been battling cancer, used his licensed revolver to take his own life.

Moments before his death, Bablu sent a poignant message in a WhatsApp group that read, “Duaon mein yaad rakhna” (Remember me in your prayers). The sound of the gunshot drew neighbours to the scene, where they found the SP leader in a critical condition.

Those who knew him were aware of his illness, but none expected him to take such a drastic step. According to close associates, Bablu had been suffering from both physical and mental distress for an extended period, which ultimately led to this tragic decision.

The Samajwadi Party expressed their grief over Bablu’s death through their official account on X (formerly Twitter), stating, “The demise of Lucknow’s former city president Muzaiburrahman Bablu ji is extremely sad. May God grant peace to his soul and our deepest condolences to the bereaved family.”

Following the news of his death, numerous party workers gathered at Bablu’s residence. After being alerted, the cops reached the spot.

The police recovered the body and sent it for a post-mortem examination.

New Delhi, Jan 10: Inter-sectoral collaboration and enhanced research are crucial to address the rising burden of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) like diabetes, hypertension, and obesity, said the Union Health Ministry on Friday.

NCDs account for over 66 per cent of all deaths across the nation. The burden of NCDs such as cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, and cancers has also become a significant public health challenge, particularly among individuals over the age of 30.

“The need for inter-sectoral collaboration, enhanced research, and innovative practices to address the growing burden of NCDs,” said Punya Salila Srivastava, Union Health Secretary.

She said this at the two-day national workshop on NCDs, hosted by the Union Health Ministry in collaboration with the Government of Telangana from January 8-9.

The workshop brought together key stakeholders including Principal Secretaries (Health), Mission Director-National Health Mission, and other senior officers from all the States and Union Territories, health professionals, and policymakers from across the country, focused on strengthening strategies for the prevention, screening, management, and treatment of NCDs.

“This national workshop marked a significant step toward achieving the government’s vision of a ‘Healthy India’, with an emphasis on universal access to quality healthcare services and the reduction of premature mortality from NCDs,” Srivastava said.

She noted that the workshop will enable the Health Ministry “to strategise the priorities while submitting proposals before the 16th Finance Commission of India for strengthening the health care system including prevention and control of NCDs”.

The conference featured comprehensive discussions, field visits, and knowledge-sharing sessions addressing different aspects of major NCDs, including diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease (CKD), chronic respiratory disease (CRD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), stroke, and cancer.

Community-based interventions were a major focus, with sessions emphasising the role of campaigns such as Fit India and Eat Right India. It also discussed state-specific strategies to address hypertension and cancer, as well as explored strategies to address gaps in cancer care — from screening to follow-up.