A government hospital in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni district has reported over 80 infant deaths in the past six months. The deaths are primarily attributed to premature births and low birth weight.
In the past six months, at least 80 infants have died at a government hospital located in Madhya Pradesh's Seoni district, according to a report by The Indian Express. Hospital officials attribute these deaths mainly to premature births and low birth weight, with 34 infants dying between April and June, followed by 46 between July and September.
On Saturday, Dinesh Rai Munmun, a legislator from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, inspected the hospital following reports of infant deaths and called for an investigation. During his visit, he claimed that 46 infants had died in the past three months due to breathing difficulties.
Dr Vinod Kumar Navkar, the civil surgeon, said that critically ill infants from rural areas of the district are often referred to the special newborn care unit of the hospital. He added that over half of the 1,188 newborns treated at the hospital during this period had low birth weight, as defined by the World Health Organization (less than 2.5 kg). Navkar also stated that the neonatal mortality rate at the hospital is lower than that of other districts in the Jabalpur division, a claim disputed by Rai due to potential underreporting of critically ill newborns being referred to other hospitals.
Source:
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