25 babies die in Malda in 6 days

MALDA: Malda Medical College and Hospital has admitted that 25 babies have died in the hospital in the last six days. According to college authority, six babies died on November 2, two on November 3, four on 4th, five on 5th, four on 6th and four on November 7. However, vice-principal of the college M A Rashid claimed that 13 babies died in the last 72 hours, which is far below the national average.
“We want each of them to be hale and hearty, but despite the best effort of doctors and nurses we can’t help always”, Rashid said. He claimed that out of the 13 babies, 11 were born at home. Some of them were brought from Bihar and Jharkhand. Most of them were born with low birth weight and some were suffering from asphyxia. He added that at present 200 babies were being treated in the medical college.
Doctors blame the low birth weight of babies for the high mortality rate each winter. “But how is the health department passing the buck to premature birth and low weight? Nutrition of the mother is also the responsibility of the health department,” said MP Mousam Noor.
Meanwhile, 22 patients, including 9 women, were admitted with symptoms of dengue since Thursday evening. The disease has made its presence felt in different parts of Malda, including Kaliachak, English Bazaar and Manikchak.