11 Kids at Nalgonda Sishu Gruha Die From Malnutrition

Hyderabad: Eleven infants died at a state- run children's home in Telangana's Nalgonda district in the past three months due to complications like low immunity and lack of colostrums.

The children's home - Sishu Gruha - which accommodates about 40 infants against the sanctioned number of 20 has now initiated measures like providing healthier food or milk to the remaining babies. "All the 11 babies who died during the past three months were underweight. Some of them were not even breastfed after birth. They were admitted to various hospitals after they developed complications. Unfortunately, we could not save them," BP Pushpalatha, District Welfare Officer (Women Development and Child welfare), Nalgonda said.

"Now we have taken all necessary measures. We have introduced low birth weight formula milk for children," Pushpalatha added. Mothers naturally become weak after fourth or fifth delivery and the babies born are low weight, she said, adding that they offer the babies to the children's home due to poverty without even providing colostrums which is leading to health complications for those infants. The official said the age of infants who died varied from a few days to two months.

She said Collector Gaurav Uppal had ordered an inquiry into the deaths and asked the officials to submit a report.