In the last one month, as many as 219 infants deaths have been reported from two government hospitals in Rajkot and Ahmedabad. The report comes in at a time when infant deaths in Kota, Rajasthan are making headlines for the severe rise in infant death cases.
In December, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay Hospital in Rajkot hospital registered as many as 134 infants deaths while the Ahmedabad civil hospital reported 85 deaths.
According to an India Today report, the cause of deaths is said to be malnutrition, diseases from birth, premature birth, and mother’s malnourishment. According to official records, in 2019, Rajkot recorded 1235 deaths of infants, while, Jamnagar recorded 639 deaths.
The Gujarat Chief Minister on Sunday evaded the questions on deaths at Rajkot hospital.
#WATCH: Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani walks away when asked about reports of deaths of infants in hospitals in Rajkot and Ahmedabad. pic.twitter.com/pzDUAI231Z
— ANI (@ANI) January 5, 2020
While the CM refused to answer, the Gujarat Deputy Chief Minister Nitin Patel, who is also the State Health Minister addressed the media.
“For a few days, news of deaths of newborns are making rounds in the channels and papers. What is happening in Rajasthan is being discussed everywhere. The state government is implementing many health schemes through government hospitals and still, if such news is coming, then it is worrisome,” said Nitin Patel.
Politics over infant deaths; #Gujarat Dy CM Nitin Patel says, #Rajasthan Congress is trying to divert the attention from the deaths in #Kota.#IndiasHospitalsOfDeath #HospitalsOfHorror @disha2791 pic.twitter.com/2l4Y6tmgFa
— Mirror Now (@MirrorNow) January 5, 2020
Patel further elaborated on the state government’s efforts to bring down the infant mortality rate. He said of the 12 lakh new kids born in Gujarat every year, 99 per cent are born in hospitals. In Oct 2019, of the 815 deliveries happened in Rajkot, 238 kids were identified for special care, so they were shifted accordingly. In November, 846 births took place. A total of 71 kids died in that time.”
Also Read: Green Carpet Welcome For Ministers At Kota Hospital Even As Death Toll Rises To 104
