Total of 313 babies passed away in our health centers and hospitals in the last two years

A total of 313 babies below the age of 1 year have passed away in the last two years in our health centres and hospitals.

This has been highlighted by the Health Minister, Rosy Akbar in a written answer to SODELPA MP, Anare Vadei who had asked Akbar on the number of baby deaths and the cause of deaths for each baby in the last two years.

Akbar stated that 63 babies died of pneumonia, 61 babies passed away of foetal death of unspecified cause, 38 babies have died of respiratory distress syndrome and 26 babies of inhalation of gastric contents.

She also states that 39 babies have died of bacterial sepsis, 23 babies had heart conditions, 22 babies passed away of severe birth asphyxia, 21 babies died of me-conium aspiration and 20 babies have died of gastro-enter-itis.

The Health Minister stated that medical staff have undertaken procedures to reach out and consult the families in a progressive manner where internal investigations are being conducted.

Akbar says that once the investigation is completed, the root cause analysis finding is then revealed only to the family by the Ministry.

She says the maternal death ratio data has fallen from 39.2 per 100,000 live births in the 2011-2013 period to 30.9 per 100,000 live births in the 2013-2015 period.