At least 11 infants died in the government-run Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH) in the past 72 hours, bringing into focus again the poor condition of government hospitals in West Bengal. Three infants died on Thursday, while two died on Wednesday. Six babies passed away on Tuesday. The hospital authority has confirmed the deaths.
“Most of the children who died were underweight and suffering from septicemia and other ailments,” M A Rashid vice-principal and superintendent of MMCH told The Hindu over telephone.
Mr. Rashid said that the hospital sees a huge influx of patients particularly new-born children on a daily basis.
“The number of beds for children in the hospital is about 130 and every day, we receive 100 patients,” the hospital superintendent said.
According to authorities, the hospital caters not only to patients from various districts of Bengal, but also from adjoining districts of Bihar and Jharkhand.
Though the infant mortality rate (IMR) in the State stands at 31 (31 infants die for every 1,000 live births), which is less than the national average of 43, there are certain pockets in West Bengal where infant deaths are a routine affair. MMCH is located in one such pockets in one of the poorest districts of Bengal.
Experts say that malnutrition among women, early marriage and absence of health facilities at the local level are reasons for such deaths.
