Kota Infant Deaths Rise to 102

Jaipur/New Delhi, Jan 02 (HS): The death toll of infants at the JK Lon hospital in Rajasthan’s Kota has touched 102 after two more infants died last night. During the last 72 hours 11 infants have died at the hospital.

Showing serious concerns over the increased number of deaths of infants, Union Health Minister Dr. Harshvardhan said here Thursday, the number of deaths is much higher this time in comparison to the last few years.

He assured to extend full support to the state in tackling the health crisis. “I have written a letter to Rajasthan CM Ashok Gehlot requesting him to look into the matter,” he said.

All the deaths took place at the hospital in the month of December 2019. This toll is much more than that of 77 died in December 2018. Most of these infants died of malnutrition resulting in low weight, said hospital superintendent Dr Suresh Dulara.

Meanwhile, the congress President Sonia Gandhi has also sought a report on the rise in death toll of infants from the State’s party President Avinash Pandey. Pandey has reportedly submitted a detailed report to Sonia Gandhi, into the matter.

Facing severe criticism from opposition through a series of tweets, Rajasthan Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot assured on Thursday that his government was sensitive on the issue of deaths of infants at the JK Lone Hospital. He also insisted that there should be no politics on such sensitive issues.

“Infant mortality in this hospital of Kota is steadily decreasing. We will try to reduce it further. The health of mothers and children is our top priority,” he said.

In a tweet, the CM also said, “We are ready for the improvement of medical services in the state with the consultation and cooperation of the Centre.”

Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights on Monday, had found serious lapses at the hospital in Kota, saying its inspection had found broken windows and gates, pigs roaming inside campus and acute shortage of staff.

But the hospital authorities have said that the number of deaths reported at the health facility in 2019 has witnessed a steady decline. In the year 2014, as many as 1,198 children had died. But in 2019, the toll was 963 infants who had died at the hospital and in 2018 around 1005 infants have died.