One more infant dies in Attapadi

PALAKKAD: One more tribal infant died of alleged malnutrition in Attapadi. In the seventh such incident since January this year, Sarasa, wife of Raju of Paloor tribal hamlet in Pudur grama panchayat , Attapadi gave birth to a stillborn on Friday. She was undergoing treatment at Kottathara Tribal Specialty Hospital. The dead was confirmed during scanning and the doctors waited for a normal delivery.
K A Ramu, a tribal activist, said 23 tribal infant deaths were reported from the tribal heartland last year and it was 47 in 2013. "Despite the claim by the state that various special health packages were implemented to address the malnutrition and other health problems of tribal women, the situation has not improved," he said.
The government claimed that a system to monitor expecting mothers was implemented in their hamlets from the very first month of pregnancy. But there were many cases in which no medical aid was provided, he alleged.
Meanwhile, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said infant deaths continue in Attappadi because the government agencies have not implemented any long term plan to tackle the problem.
He alleged the government has implemented only short term plans despite the large number of infant deaths reported in the last three years. He also alleged inefficiency and corruption in the health sector.