The tragic death of ten newborns at West Bengal’s Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital on Friday has created outrage among the public.
The authorities stated that the sudden rush of patients made the hospital more crowded as it was already packed. Due to this, a smaller number of beds and lack of proper treatment results in the death of newborns.
Out of nine babies, three babies were already in the hospital and seven were referred from the Jangipur Hospital. Also, out of ten newborns, most of them were malnourished, underweight and having cardinal disorders which created a challenging situation for the hospital authorities.
Based on the available reports, it seems that infants who were born underweight faced a dire situation as their chances of survival were quite slim. The situation was further exacerbated by the fact that the window of opportunity to save them was limited to only 5-6 hours.
However, the medical committee will be conducted to investigate the incident. But the question arises here.
Why the death rates of newborns are increasing at hospitals in India?
If we look at the situation, then the death rate of newborns is higher because of poor quality health infrastructure, antenatal care, postnatal care, and maternal health, which is affecting the lives of newly born children.
Moreover, there are other reasons why it causes the death of newborns:
Poor primary care, some hospitals are still there that are lagging in providing good quality antenatal care, post-natal care for the mother and the baby, and also care of small and sick newborns.
Overcrowded hospitals, sometimes, the patients get admitted to district-level hospitals, which are over-crowded. It gets difficult to handle so many patients at one time. For which, the care centres lack hospital beds, mechanisms and equipment for treatment.
What India should do to prevent the death rate?
Preventing Birth Defects, as birth defects are the main cause of infant death. To prevent this risk, it’s suggested to get enough folic acid or related food.
Addressing underweight-born kids, premature or preterm kids are mostly the ones who are born underweight and it’s difficult to save them. Also, due to this, the baby faces breathing problem for which the lungs get affected and causes death. Providing ventilators and steroids can save the life of the baby.
Getting prenatal care, During the pregnancy, the mother’s health affects the baby’s health. It affects how the fetus is growing. Taking good care of the mother can reduce the risk for the baby- underweight, birth defect, etc can be prevented if the mother receives regular care.
Moreover, creating a safe sleeping environment and newborn screening to detect hidden conditions are the two more measures to prevent the death of infants.
Way Forward:
To reduce the mortality rates of the newborn, the hospitals should follow these measures to deliver quality care-
- Increasing the domestic sources to strengthen the quality of healthcare.
- Enhancing the workforce and capacities in healthcare.
- Ensuring a good quality healthcare system.
- Strengthening the capacities of beds and other equipment.
Overall, the government has conducted various healthcare programs to reduce the mortality rate. As a result, this year’s mortality rate is lower than in previous years. Both hospitals and the government are making efforts to improve the healthcare system of the country.
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