Local newspapers reported that more than 20
newborns died at a Turkish hospital during the last two weeks. As a measure to
cut the deaths, Turkish health officials have halted admissions of some
pregnant women to the hospital in the Turkish capital of Ankara.
Turkish officials said expectant mothers who
are at risk for premature deliveries are being blocked from entering Ankara’s Dr. Zekai Tarik
Burak Hospital after the scientific committee established by the Ministry of
Health has released a report showing that13 babies out of 49 who died last
month died as a result of infection.
On the other hand, the management of Zekai
Tahir Burak Children’s Hospital in Ankara
rejected the claims that the cause of death of 13 babies was infection.
The scientific committee stated that the
deaths were indeed due to infection and not an epidemic in the hospital, local
sources reported. The committee related the fatalities to overcrowdedness and an
insufficient number of hospital staff.
The committee found every nurse had to take
care of four high-risk babies.
“The increase in the number of babies and
the relative decrease in the size of the personnel are behind the deaths, we
believe,” Dr. Fahri Ovali, one of the members of the committee, said, as quoted
by the Associated Press.
The Health and Social Services Workers union
agreed that the hospital was understaffed.
Meanwhile, 14 babies are still infected.
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