High Rate of Infant Deaths to be Examined

There have been a high rate of infant deaths in South Africa 200 Babies have died since January in Mthatha.

The need for improved medical conditions in South Africa was highlighted in a recent report showing the high number of infant deaths in the country's state hospitals in recent months.

The number of babies who died has grown to such a point that the government is setting up a special investigation into the matter.

An example was shown in the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in Mthaha in the Eastern Cape.

According to local health officials, 181 babies have died in the hospital since the beginning of the year, with the majority of them born to HIV positive mothers who did not have access to ARV drugs.

Most of the infants were born premature, and they had a strong chance of being HIV positive themselves since their mothers had not received prenatal care in time to to block the transmission of the virus to the placenta.

"A team of experts is to be set up to investigate the situation and come back with recommendations on how such incidents could be averted in the future," noted a spokesperson for the South African health ministry, Fidel Habebe.

The high rate of infant mortality is another tragic result of a country where the vast majority of people cannot afford health insurance.

Incredibly, South Africa's infant mortality rate (44 babies out of 1,000 newborns) is considered the lowest in Africa.

South Africa also has the most cases of HIV anywhere in the world, with nearly 6% of the population carrying the virus.

The public health system is severely understaffed and under financed, leading to calls for the government to create a system that is fairer to all citizens, such as the planned National Health Insurance Scheme.