Two out of three infants who die in the city are newborns. An estimated 3,000 babies born in the city each year do not get to celebrate their first birthday, said experts. If they are saved within the crucial 30-day period after birth, then the city's infant mortality rate will improve drastically.
However, the task is easier said than done. Currently, there are only 327 neonatal beds—including the ones in major public and private hospitals—for approximately 1.6 lakh births in the city. Premature deliveries, which account for 13% of all births, coupled with post-birth complications increase manifold the percentage of babies needing care. "Many people prefer to think that they can have another baby by next year rather than spending too much money on saving a newborn with serious problems. There is also a shortage of super-specialty care for newborns in the city. In such circumstances, the infant mortality rate is only bound to rise," said Dr Nandkishor Kabra, neonatologist from Surya Child Care in Santa Cruz, which will open a 25-bed neonatal wing on Thursday.
Mumbai needs at least 1,500 neonatal beds, said experts. "Most deaths of newborns can be attributed to asphyxia, infection and pre-term births. Some deaths could be prevented with timely intervention," said Dr Bhupendra Avasthi, owner of Surya Hospital. "About 10-15% of critical births need ventilators, but the demand is far more than supply as Mumbai caters to all other corporations," said a pediatrician from Sion Hospital.
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