Over 7,000 children died in Malkangiri district in five years
16 May, 2013The reply to an application filed under the Right to Information (RTI) Act has revealed high number of child death in the Malkangiri district of Odisha in past few years.
According to the reply, at least 7,400 children in the age group of zero to six years have died in Malkangiri district between 2007 and 2012. Most of these deaths were due to preventable diseases such as low birth weight, anaemia, malaria, pneumonia, encephalitis, respiratory infections and abdominal problems. The reply shows that maximum deaths were reported at the district headquarters hospital (1,968) followed by Kalimela community health centre (1,411), Mathili CHC (1,166) and Kudumulguma CHC (1,068).
Based on the RTI reply the applicant filed a petition in the Orissa High Court seeking an enquiry by a high level task force into such high child mortality in the district. He also urged the court to direct the government to implement special nutrition programmes for children and mothers in the district.
The High Court has issued a notice to the state government regarding this and has asked them to respond by June 2013.