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Attappady Babies' Deaths Raise Health Alarms
27 Oct
Summary
- Ten infant deaths occurred over the past four months.
- Recent deaths highlight concerns over maternal nutrition access.
- Malnutrition is alleged as a contributing factor to infant fatalities.
A troubling surge in infant mortality has been reported in Attappady, Keralam, where ten babies have died in the last four months. Three of these deaths occurred within a single week, prompting urgent reviews of maternal and newborn healthcare services. The most recent fatality involved a newborn boy who died shortly after birth at Government Medical College Hospital, Kozhikode, on Tuesday, October 27, 2026.
This infant's mother, Raji, who suffers from sickle cell anaemia, was initially admitted to Kottathara hospital after her baby's movements ceased. She was subsequently transferred for specialized care. Preliminary findings suggest complications present at birth, including a heart defect, contributed to the baby's death.
Two other recent infant deaths were also reported in Attappady. A 15-day-old boy died at Government Medical College Hospital, Thrissur, and a 20-day-old baby passed away at the same hospital on October 21, 2026. These incidents have intensified scrutiny on the availability of proper nutrition and the effectiveness of early detection and treatment for maternal and newborn health problems in the area.
Activists have voiced concerns, with the Democratic Youth Federation of India protesting and alleging that malnutrition is a key driver of these infant fatalities. Families have also come forward with allegations of missed diagnoses at local health facilities, indicating potential delays in identifying serious congenital conditions that required specialized intervention.
