2 districts report 19 infant deaths

Infant deaths have returned to haunt West Bengal with 19 babies dying in Bankura and Malda districts in the last two days. Ten babies died at the Bankura Sammilani Medical College while nine died at the Malda Medical College and Hospital,officials said on Friday.

Superintendent of Bankura Sammilani Medical College and Hospital Dr P Kundu said while four children died on Wednesday,six babies expired yesterday. The deaths were due to meningitis,pneumonia and low birth weight,Dr Kundu said.

Of the nine infant deaths at the Malda hospital,seven of them were 15 days old,vice-principal of the Malda hospital Dr M A Rashid said. He said most of the newborns came from rural hospitals in Malda district and outside with problems ranging from pneumonia to septicaemia. With nine more deaths,the toll in the hospital has shot up to 125 in the last 16 days,he said,adding experts belonging to Sick Newborn Care Units would shortly visit the hospital to have a look at the infrastructure.