In News: 21 Infants die in Purulia District Hospital

21 infant deaths have been reported in Purulia, West Bengal, over the last five 5 days.

Sahasranshu Mahapatra
India
Updated:
Neonatal Care Unit of the Purulia District Hospital (Photo: Anil Giri)
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Neonatal Care Unit of the Purulia District Hospital (Photo: Anil Giri)
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Twenty one infants have died in the Purulia District Hospital in West Bengal over the last five days, according to hospital authorities.

The hospital reported a highest seven deaths on last Friday itself.

These were all infant deaths. All the babies were brought to the hospital in a critical condition. This is a backward area of the state. We have sought the state’s intervention. We are holding a meeting with the Chief Medical Officer and other doctors tomorrow to look into the matter.

— Nilanjana Sen, Superintendent, Purulia District Hospital

Purulia District Hospital (Photo: Anail Giri)

According to the doctors of the hospital, the infants died due to low bodyweight, infection and pneumonia. Some infants were brought to hospital in a critical condition and had breathing problems and pneumonia since birth.

SUCI workers protest outside the Purulia District Hospital (Photo: Anil Giri)

The state government is yet to respond to the matter as locals are demanding the government to look into the matter urgently and take corrective measures.

A delegation of the local Congress unit inspected the condition at the hospital on Saturday and submitted a memorandum to the hospital Deputy Superintendent Santanu Mukherjee. The Socialist Unity Centre of India (SUCI) workers had taken out a protest march on Friday demanding an inquiry into the high number of infant deaths.

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Published: 15 Jun 2015,04:56 PM IST

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