Three infant deaths at Ratnapura hospital

Nadira Gunatilleke

Three infants born in the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital died because the nurses on duty in the labour room allegedly refrained from attending to their tasks, Healthcare and Nutrition Ministry sources said.

Sources said the health officials attached to the hospital reported the incident to the ministry and the death toll had increased with the deaths of these infants.

The Ministry will conduct a full investigation into these deaths and hand over the report to the Attorney General for further action.

Meanwhile, the President of the Public Service United Nurses Union, Ven. Muruththettuwe Ananda Thera had terminated the membership of 371 nurses of the union attached to the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital with immediate effect because the nurses had overlooked the orders of the union and acted according to the demands of another trade union which is allegedly affiliated to the JVP, sources said.

According to the Thera one trade union had organised the strike at the Ratnapura Teaching Hospital to sabotage the Nightingale Commemoration held at Temple Trees yesterday under the patronage of President Mahinda Rajapaksa, the sources added.