Neo-natal care in Malda dist hospital

Statesman News Service

MALDA,(India) Dec. 23. — After the visit of the health minister, Dr Surya Kanta Mishra, in Malda district hospital on Wednesday, the district health authorities are gearing up for the proposed neonatal care unit project in Malda district hospital in order to stop cross infection among newborn babies. The proposed unit was prepared earlier following the government instructions but it was yet to take off finally due to unknown reasons. “In fact the initiative was taken and every thing was ready but all of a sudden the programme was deferred,” said a medical officer when the minister, Dr Mishra had sought clarification from them during his visit in the district hospital. The minister was taken aback visiting the pediatric ward where on an average 80 babies were being treated. The ward, however, had no system of separation for the new born babies. “Though there are only 40 beds for babies including 15 paying beds but rush of admitting babies in the ward is too high owing to three common diseases prevailing in this region at present including breathing problem”, said a doctor of the hospital. “Besides Malda district, baby patients come from Murshidabad, North and South Dinajpur, Murshidabad, and from the adjoining areas of Jharkhand and Bihar very close to Harischandrapur in Malda”, said Dr ML Das, the superintendent of the district hospital. The district health records show that the mortality rate of babies here is higher than other patients. It was also found that the average rate of death in the district hospital is 2,000 per year and the rate of baby death is higher than other. “On an average 10 babies died in every month in the district hospital”, said a pediatrician. Official sources said that over Rs 3.50 lakh has been estimated for opening the neonatal unit in the district hospital very close to labour room in the district hospital. The district health authorities have also planned, if they get sanctioning for more 200 beds in the district hospital, it would open another ‘sub neonatal’ unit in the newly constructed building of the district hospital. Comparatively better babies will be shifted to that unit from the neonatal care unit after a month considering their health consideration.