Dhangadi, October 22

Neonatal mortality rate was found to be high in Seti Zonal Hospital of Sudurpaschim Province.

Data made public by Golden Nepal today showed that Seti Zonal Hospital is the second government health facility with high neonatal mortality rate. The mortality rate is 29.7 per cent per 1,000 live births. Nepalgunj-based Bheri Zonal Hospital ranks first in neonatal mortality rate with only 35 deaths out of 1,000 live births.

Srijana Sharma of Golden Nepal said research on neonatal mortality rate was carried out at Koshi Hospital, Janakpur Hospital, Bharatpur Hospital, Lumbini Provincial Hospital, Bheri Hospital, Karanali Provincial Hospital, Seti Zonal Hospital and Dadeldhura Sub-regional Hospital.

Sharma said Dadeldhura Sub-Regional Hospital had the lowest neonatal mortality rate. Out of every 1,000 live births, four neo-natals die at the hospital. Former health secretary Sushilnath Pyakurel attributed doctors’ negligence, lack of space for parturition and lack of trained health workers to the neonatal deaths.

Research showed unmanaged delivery wards and health workers’ negligence had led to high number of neonatal deaths at Seti Zonal Hospital.