The spate of infant deaths continues unabated in the Government-SVRR General Hospital here. With five more children breathing their last in the Paediatric Intensive Care unit on Saturday-Sunday, the death toll during the last five days alone has reportedly gone up to 15.
Hospital Superintendent Dr. Veeraswamy, in his official bulletin released on Sunday, said the condition of 11 children being treated in the Intensive Care Unit was ‘critical.’
According to the medical bulletin, the children died due to different disorders like respiratory problem, low birth weight and acute malnutrition. One of the victims is a 9-year-old boy — Venkatramana from Dakkali mandal in Nellore district — who was admitted for treatment after he was stung by a scorpion.
As many as 44 children have been admitted to the hospital with different ailments since Saturday morning.
On Sunday, CPI State secretary K. Narayana went around the wards to console the parents. TDP president N. Chandrababu Naidu is scheduled to visit it on Monday.
The CPI leader, talking to media after the visit, said the deaths of infants were due to government’s negligence.
