High infant, mother mortality rates plague Bhadradri district

High infant, mother mortality rates plague Bhadradri district
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Earlier, the undivided Khammam district recorded 163 deaths of just-born and 12 women at the time of delivering babies. Of this, Bhadrachalam ITDA witnessed 110 deaths of the new-born and deaths of eight pregnant women. In spite of several measures taken by the government to overcome the

Bhadrachalam: Death of infants soon after taking birth and pregnant woman at the time of going into labour is plaguing the new district of Bhadradri Kothagudem. Anaemia, nutritional deficiency, lack of awareness on nutrition, financial problems among othes are said to be the reasons behind the high infant and mother mortality rates.

Earlier, the undivided Khammam district recorded 163 deaths of just-born and 12 women at the time of delivering babies. Of this, Bhadrachalam ITDA witnessed 110 deaths of the new-born and deaths of eight pregnant women. In spite of several measures taken by the government to overcome the deficiency, illiteracy, lack of awareness over nutrition are said to be reasons for the death of mother and child in the Agency areas.

In the last six months, Banjara Primary Health Centre (PHC) and Bhadrachalam Area Hospital recorded death of seven infants each, Charla and Vinayakapuram PHCs five deaths each, Jagannadhapuram, Gummadivalli and Satyanarayanapuram PHCs four deaths each, while the Yedira PHC recorded three deaths.

According to statistics, in 2013-14; out of 330 infant deaths in Khammam district, Bhadrachalam Agency accounted for 258. Out of deaths of 32 pregnant women at the time of labour in the district, the Agency area accounted for 23 deaths. In 2014-15; out of 311 infant deaths in Khammam district, Bhadrachalam Agency accounted for 183. Out of deaths of 40 pregnant women, the Agency area accounted for 24 deaths.
In 2015-16; out of 328 infant deaths in Khammam district, Bhadrachalam Agency accounted for 207. Out of 18 pregnant women at the time of labour in the district, the Agency area accounted for 10 deaths.

Medical officers attribute the deaths to anaemia and nutritional deficiency. In Bhadrachalam Area Hospital, 17 babies were born prematurely. Women instead of going into labour after nine months of conception are delivering babies between sixth and eighth months.The Neo-natal Baby Welfare Centre in Bhadrachalam treated 1,250 babies born prematurely. Of them, 60 had died. Similarly, of the 450 babies referred by private hospital, 59 had died while undergoing treatment.

Talking to The Hans India, Area Hospital superintendent Dr MV Koti Reddy said modern equipment was being used to save babies’ lives, but sometimes babies could not be saved as the situation goes out of hand. All India Democratic Women's Association leader Marlapati Renuka has demanded the neo-natal deaths in the Agency areas should be checked by sensitising women on nutrition.

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