Three more infants die in Salem

Despite the Tamil Nadu
government's steps to control continuing death of infants in state-run hospitals in Dharmapuri and Salem since November 14, three more newborns died here today, taking the number of deaths to 16.
Notwithstanding the state government's claim that the recent deaths of newborns in Dharmapuri hospital was due to natural causes, three babies (two girls and a boy) died and 98 more are being treated at Mohan Kumaramangalam Government Hospital here, hospital officials said.
Two of the three babies were earlier shifted to the hospital from Dharmapuri in critical condition due to suffocation, they said.
The first case of infant deaths in Dharampuri Hospital was reported on November 14 and 11 deaths were reported there between November 14-17. Two babies shifted from Dharmapuri Government Hospital to Salem for want of beds, died on November 19.

However, medical authorities claim that there have been no medical negligence. Hospital authorities said the deaths were due to "extreme non-viability nature of factors, including pre-existing low birth weight and respiratory distress."

Special teams have been formed to monitor the situation round the clock.
The state government has formed three teams to study the reasons behind the death of the infants at Dharmapuri.
Meanwhile, National Human Rights Commission today issued a notice to the state government calling for a report within four weeks.
Citing media reports, which said that the deaths were due to malnutrition and negligence, Justice D Murugesan, NHRC member, observed that the contents of the reports, if true, "raised a serious issue of violation of human rights."

Chief Minister O Panneerselvam recently said the deaths were due to "natural" causes and not "due to medical negligence".
The deaths have triggered a storm with BJP Tamil Nadu unit demanding a 'white paper' and resignation of the Health Minister while DMK chief M Karunanidhi has condemned the 'lackadaisical' attitude of the government and demanded action against those responsible.