Nov. 01--KOLKATA/INDIA (THE STATESMAN/ANN) -- Even as the chief minister of West Bengal, India, Mamata Banerjee continues to remain silent on the crib deaths in the state, her nominee at the Centre, Union minister of state for health, Sudip Bandopadhyay, said Monday that the child mortality rate in West Bengal is lower than India's national average and the state government is trying to bring it down further.
"The infant mortality rate nationally is 61 per 1,000. In West Bengal, it is 33 per 1,000. The state government is trying its best to further bring down the mortality rate," Bandopadhyay said.
This happened on a day the Governor, MK Narayanan, expressed concern over the death of several babies in the state and said steps are being taken to stop any more tragedy. "Yes, it is a matter of concern. West Bengal government is working on it," he told reporters when asked about the death of babies in the state.
Asked whether an inquiry should be instituted to find out the causes for the deaths, Narayanan said, "More than the inquiry, we should focus that there should be no single (baby) death and the state government is working on that."
Bandopadhyay's comment came after he inaugurated a Sick Newborn Care Unit at the BC Roy Post-Graduate Institute of Paediatric Sciences which saw 17 infant deaths between 25 and 29 October.
Describing the recent infant deaths at the hospital as a "tornado", Bandopadhyay said Miss Banerjee was concerned about it. The minister said the Centre would enhance allocation in the healthcare sector in the next five years. Meanwhile, a five-day-old baby died at the Burdwan Medical College and Hospital on Monday, taking the combined toll, including those at BC Roy hospital, to 36.
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