World | India
Infant deaths stun Kerala into action
Kerala, which has drawn kudos for its healthcare system from such eminent personalities as economics Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, has been shocked by the deaths of about two dozens infants at a government hospital here over the past couple of months.
- By Akhel Mathew, Correspondent
- Published: 00:00 May 3, 2007
Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala, which has drawn kudos for its healthcare system from such eminent personalities as economics Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, has been shocked by the deaths of about two dozens infants at a government hospital here over the past couple of months.
State Health Minister P.K. Sreemathy, who yesterday visited the the Sree Avittam Tirunal (SAT) Hospital attached to the state's premier Medical College for a first-hand assessment, told newspersons that the institution's superintendent, Dr Rajmohan, had been given marching orders. Hospital officials, however, said they were yet to receive any intimation in the matter.
Sreemathy sanctioned Rs10 million for improving hygiene at the hospital and ordered that staff for cleaning duties be strengthened on an emergency basis.
The nursing section alone was expected to receive 47 new faces immediately even as the hospital development committee was due to meet in the wake of the tragedy.
The unexplained increase in the number of infants being admitted to the hospital's nursery for special care raised suspicion and microbiological tests conducted subsequently proved that as many as 23 babies had died owing to a particular strain of multi-drug-resistant bacteria.
All the deaths are believed to have been caused by hospital-acquired infection.
It is reported that infant care at the hospital had been affected in recent times owing to a shortage of nursing assistants and cleaning staff.
The development is of concern to the government in general and the city's residents in particular, given the fact that SAT Hospital is the leading hospital in terms of childbirths in the south of the state.
It is estimated that about 60 births take place at the hospital every day with an average of about 20,000 births each year.
This led to a space crunch at the hospital and the neonatal care unit has been under pressure to find additional space to accommodate all babies.
Among those who have visited the hospital following the shocking revelation include Human Rights Commission Chairman Justice Dinakar, Women's Commission Chairperson Justice Sreedevi and a number of political leaders, besides the Health Minister.
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