Another tribal infant dies of malnutrition, toll reaches 15

Palakkad: Amidst concerns about the ill-health and malnutrition among tribal children, one more infant died in Attappady area here taking the toll to 15, health officials said on Monday.

With the death of the five-month-old boy yesterday along with two more deaths registered last month, the toll has touched 15 in Attappady, one of the largest tribal settlements in the state, since January.

The infant in Kottamala settlement in Sholayur near here, died at a hospital in Coimbatore yesterday, officials said.

The boy, suffering from ailments caused by malnutrition, was first admitted to a tribal super specialty hospital here, but later was shifted to Coimbatore for better medical care, they said.

Last year, a total of 73 children, including newborns, died in Attappady due to malnutrition and other reasons.

Though central and state governments have initiated many relief packages for the well-being of inhabitants here, child deaths are still a major concerns in the region.