- As Another canoe mishap claims two lives in Kebbi
No fewer than eight newly-born babies died in 24 hours at a government-run hospital in India’s north-eastern state of Assam, officials said on Friday.
The deaths took place at the Fakhruddin Ali Ahmed Medical College Hospital in Barpeta district, about 102 km west of Dispur, the capital city of Assam.
“Five infants died on Wednesday night and three on Thursday.
“It is just a coincidence that these newly-born children, aged one day to two months, died within the span of 24 hours,’’ a health official at the hospital said.
However, authorities have ruled out medical negligence and claim the deaths occurred due to birth asphyxia (a medical condition resulting from deprivation of oxygen to a newborn).
Locals, however, blame poor infrastructure and negligence at the hospital.
According to doctors, all the children were in critical condition, underweight and were in neo-natal intensive care unit (ICU).
Local Health Minister of Assam, Himanta Sarma, has ordered a probe into deaths.
“We have sent the director medical education and consultant from UNICEF to audit the deaths,’’ Sarma told newsmen.
In August this year, over 60 children died at a medical college hospital due to the lack of oxygen in northern state of Uttar Pradesh.
In the meantime, another canoe mishap has claimed two lives in Yauri Local Government Area of Kebbi, two days after 18 passengers died when their canoe capsized in the area.
Chairman of the local council, Musa Mohammad, confirmed the latest incident to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in a telephone interview on Friday.
According to him, the canoe left Binua village conveying 11 people to a market in the area when it capsized.
“The village is close to the market; they were going to trade in Yauri when the wave accompanied by strong wind forced the canoe to capsize.
“Two persons, a Fulani woman and an elderly person were feared drowned in the river,” Mohammed said.
He however said that the rest of the passengers were rescued after the small canoe capsized.
The chairman blamed the incident on the driver’s refusal to heed the warning issued by officials of Nigerian Inland Waterways Authority, not to embark on the journey.
“He was warned by the officials not to embark on the journey because of the unfavourable weather condition, but refused to heed to the advice,” he said.
Acting Executive Director, State Emergency Management Agency, Abbas Kamba, also confirmed the incident.
NAN recalls that 18 passengers travelling from Jeribago village in Kebbi to Tuteku village in Niger, died on Wednesday when their wooding boat collided with a tree trunk.
Additional report from Guardian NG
