Bhubaneswar, Aug. 31: Union minister for health and family welfare J.P. Nadda today said a team of paediatric experts would visit Odisha to help the state government ascertain the reasons behind continuing infant deaths at Sishu Bhawan in Cuttack.

The death toll at the medical facility today reached 54.

"It will suggest immediate, short-term and long-term measures that would avert such occurrences in the future through effective management and preparedness," said a government release.

The minister has also directed the health ministry to send a team of required specialists to assist the state in management of the critical cases of children that require urgent attention.

On August 29, a three-member delegation, led by Dr Arun K. Panda, additional secretary in the health ministry visited the Sishu Bhavan. The team consisted of paediatrics and specialists from Lady Hardinge Medical College, Dr RML Hospital and the Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi. The team was assisted by an assistant professor from the AIIMS, Bhubaneshwar.

It has also given its findings.

The short-term measures include mobilising more senior residents (post MD) to strengthen the current team at the institute for strict monitoring of the sick children, round-the-clock availability of lab facilities of emergency investigations inside the hospital, mobilisation of lab technicians, radiographers and paramedical staff members to manage these services and availability of all life support drugs.

It also suggests higher antibiotics free of cost be given to the patients and stationing of more nurses, especially in the emergency areas.

The long-term measures recommended by the team of experts include attention to areas such as creation of more medical and paramedical posts, round-the-clock in house lab and investigation facility, computerised medical record system and appointment of counsellors and social workers among others.