Six newborn babies died within hours in the post-delivery ward of Ad-Din Hospital in Dhaka, Bangladesh, on May 27. Health officials are investigating the cause, with initial focus on a malfunctioning air conditioning system that led to suffocating conditions. The babies, aged one to three days, were returned to the ward after one was taken to intensive care. All were placed on ventilators but could not be saved. Authorities are examining potential technical faults, while families expressed concern and considered transferring children.
A Bangladesh Counter Terrorism and Transnational Crime official, from the specialised unit of the Dhaka Metropolitan Police, inspects the scene at the post-operative ward of the Ad-din Hospital in Dhaka on Wednesday.
- Photo: EPA DHAKA: At least six newborn babies died in the same hospital ward in Bangladesh within hours of each other on Wednesday , said health officials, who launched an investigation. The newborns, aged between one and three days, were in the post-delivery ward of Ad-Din Hospital, a private facility in the capital Dhaka.
"An investigation is underway, and we need some time to determine the cause of the deaths of the newborns," Nahida Yasmin, a director at the hospital, told reporters. Prabhat Chandra Biswas, head of the government's health department, noted that air conditioning in the ward was not working in the early hours on Wednesday, as temperatures in Dhaka were around 32C. "There is no alternative ventilation once the air conditioner is turned off," he told reporters, saying the atmosphere inside was suffocating.
One baby fell sick and was taken to an intensive care unit, but was returned to the ward an hour later. Around dawn, five other babies were feeling unwell.
"All were put on ventilators but could not be saved," Yasmin said. Health department spokesman Zahid Raihan said initial information did not suggest any mistreatment as the cause of the deaths.
"The Criminal Investigation Department is... testing whether there were any technical faults in the air conditioner or any electrical equipment," he said. Janu, a 55-year-old woman whose granddaughter was among the six dead, sat at the entrance of the hospital holding a tiny body wrapped in a shroud. The babies"turned blue one after another... We took her to the ICU and later received her body," Janu said.
Others families at the hospital appeared nervous, with some saying they were considering transferring their children elsewhere.
"My grandson has been in the ICU for 19 days in a critical condition -- I can't understand what I should do," Mohammed Harun told AFP. - AFPTop Vietnamese leader begins official visit to Thailand
Newborn Deaths Ad-Din Hospital Dhaka Air Conditioning Investigation
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Tamparuli farm given six months to resolve pollutionTAMPARULI: State Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Industry Minister Datuk Jamawi Jaafar has given a Kampung Kauluan livestock farm six months to resolve biogas pollution complaints from residents, or f
Read more »
Resource Constraint Hits Queen Elizabeth Hospital II in SabahQueen Elizabeth Hospital II faces critical shortage of medical staff hindering its potential
Read more »
Think tank moots govt takeover of private hospital in PJGalen Centre says Putrajaya could lease the facility for 10 years while a public hospital is built, or initiate a permanent takeover through a negotiated acquisition or long-term concession.
Read more »
Caretakers at French Wildlife Hospital Caring for Baby FoxA team of volunteers at a wildlife hospital in a Paris suburb is caring for a baby fox found alone in a garden, helping her heal so she can return to her natural habitat
Read more »