80 newborns die at Seoni district hospital's SNCU, MLA calls for probe

At least 80 infants have died at the Special Newborn Care Unit (SNCU) of Seoni district hospital in Madhya Pradesh over the past six months, prompting local BJP MLA Dinesh Rai Munmun to call for an immediate probe.

What Happened

The hospital treated 1,188 newborns during the same period; 642 of them weighed less than the WHO‑recommended 2.5 kg. Civil Surgeon Dr Vinod Kumar Navkar said most deaths involved premature or low‑birth‑weight babies and complications during labour. He quoted WHO data that mortality can rise to 48 % for such infants. The unit recorded 34 deaths between April and June and 46 deaths between July and September.

Reaction

MLA Munmun said doctors were not on duty at night, that staff tried to block his surprise inspection, and that no doctor was present when he arrived. He alleged that 46 children died from breathing problems because a ventilator was available but no doctor was stationed to operate it, and that nurses lacked training. Families also complained of delayed care: Manish Warkade from Dungariya village said his wife’s newborn died after being admitted in July, while Sanjay Uikey from Jawarkathi recounted his baby, born at seven months and weighing 1.6 kg, died after a weak heartbeat and a later transfer to another machine. Navkar defended the unit, noting its neonatal mortality rate is below 7.5 %, lower than other districts in the Jabalpur division, and that the recommended benchmark is 10 %. He said the hospital has sought but not received additional support from the attached medical college’s paediatrics department.

Context

Premature and low‑birth‑weight infants are especially vulnerable in rural India, where specialised neonatal care is often limited and staff shortages can worsen outcomes.