WB: Three more babies die, toll rises to 12

Malda (WB), Nov 11: Three more babies died at the Malda District Sadar Hospital today increasing the toll of infant deaths there to 12 since Tuesday, Health Department sources said. Three children - a one a half month old, a two-day old and another 28-day old - died on Friday, hospital sources said.

The three children died as they were underweight and suffering from broncho-pneumonia and other serious ailments, they said. Till Thursday, nine babies in the age group of 0 to nine months and suffering from broncho-pneumonia and low birth weight had died since 12 noon Tuesday. Also, another baby was stillborn yesterday.

Meanwhile, the hospital sources said a new critical care unit has been opened in the paediatric department of the hospital. Three more paediatric doctors including a professor of a medical college have been deputed to the hospital today, they said. Out of the paediatric doctors in the hospital, one was on leave during this time, they said adding he has been told to join duty immediately. 36 babies had died at several district hospitals, including the referral B C Roy Children's Hospital in Kolkata in October.

PTI