One more infant dies in Attapadi

Palakkad: One more tribal infant died of alleged malnutrition in Attapadi on Wednesday, in the fourth such incident in the region since January this year.

Jyothimani, wife of Velligiri of Thoova tribal hamlet at Sholayur panchayat in Attapadi had given birth to a baby boy of six months of gestational age.

The baby was undergoing treatment at Kottathara Tribal Specialty Hospital.

He weighed just one kilogram during the time of birth.

Around 23 tribal infant deaths were reported from the tribal heartland last year and it was 47 in 2013.

Although the government claims that a system to monitor expecting mothers has been implemented in the hamlets from the very first month of pregnancy, there are many cases in which no medical aid is provided.