10 young children die in 10-hour span at Bangladesh hospital

SYLHET, Bangladesh (AP) — Ten children ranging from 1 day to 3 1/2 years old have died over a 10-hour span at an overcrowded state-run hospital in northeastern Bangladesh, prompting authorities to investigate whether negligence by hospital staff played a part in the deaths, officials said Tuesday.

Abdus Salam, deputy director of M.A.G. Osmani Medical College and Hospital in Sylhet city, said the children had been suffering from various complications, including malnutrition, infection and pneumonia. The deaths occurred between 8 p.m. Monday and 6 a.m. Tuesday.

Salam said the deaths were “natural,” but relatives said negligence by doctors and nurses was the main factor. Authorities have launched an investigation into the deaths, Salam said.

The hospital has a capacity of 500 beds, but accommodates up to 1,800 patients a day, said Abdus Sabur Mia, the hospital’s director. He said it was a struggle to accommodate the patients because of a lack of space and inadequate staff.

“In a facility like this, many die naturally every day. It’s normal,” Mia said. “But we will look into the cases of the children’s deaths seriously.”

He said results of the investigation were expected in a week.

Sylhet is 192 kilometers (120 miles) northeast of Dhaka, Bangladesh’s capital.

The impoverished South Asian country has reduced the number of infant and maternal deaths in recent years by introducing massive immunization.

• Health
• Abdus Salam
• Bangladesh