No increase in neonatal deaths

Figures released by Health Minister John Rahael yesterday showed that the number of neonatal deaths at the Mt Hope Women’s Hospital has remained the same for the past two years.

There was a total of 121 deaths for 2002 and 2003. Rahael provided statistics in the House of Representatives showing the number of live births, neonatal deaths (0-7 days) and (8-28 days) and the total deaths. Overall, the number of neonatal deaths (0-7 days) was higher — with 75 deaths from January to December 2002 and 46 deaths among babies 8-28 days for the same period. In 2003 there were 85 neonatal deaths for the year among babies 0-7 days and 36 deaths in babies ages 8-28 days. There were 4,653 live births recorded in 2002 and 4,803 in 2003. Rahael said a total of eight deaths occurred in January, 11 in February, 12 in March, six in April, 13 in May, four in June, nine in July and seven in August. In September 2002, there were 14 deaths — eight (0-7 days) and six (8-28 days). October also had 14 deaths recorded — ten (0-7 days) and four (8-28 days). In November, there were 13 deaths and ten in December.

In January last year there was a total of 15 neonatal deaths — 11 babies 0-7 days and four babies 8-28 days. There were nine deaths in February, seven in March, and three in April. Rahael said in May there were ten neonatal deaths, six in June and five in July. For August there were 15 neonatal deaths — 11 babies 0-7 days and four babies 8-28 days. September had 11 deaths — eight babies 0-7 days and three 8-28 days, October had 14 deaths — 13 babies 0-7 days and one baby 8-28 days. Rahael said November had 22 deaths — 17 babies 0-7 days and five, 8-28 days. There were four deaths in December, all of them neonates 0-7 days. Rahael provided these figures in response to the question posed by former Health Minister, Member of Parliament for Caroni Central,  Dr Hamza Rafeeq, about the number of neonatal deaths which occurred at the hospital on a monthly basis from January 2002 to the present. The question was listed last week but the response was deferred for one week.