Korle-Bu calls for report on baby's death

Accra, (Greater Accra) 25 Feb. '99,

Authorities of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital have called for the full autopsy report and the folder of the baby allegedly bitten to death by rats at the hospital on January 11, this year. A source close to the hospital said on Thursday that the death of the baby "cannot be attributed to the bite of rats. "The cause of death could have been the sickness, which brought the baby to the hospital. "We have called for the facts of the case from the Child Health Department to study and find out the truth of the matter". The source said the hospital spends about six million cedis every three months on pest control. "The whole hospital is surrounded by slums and the activities of the neighbours are such that they breed rats and other diseases like cholera." Professor Janet Neequaye, head of the Children's Department, said she was not going to comment on the issue. The baby whose name was not given was alleged to have undergone an operation on January nine this year but died two days later. Rumours said medical officers at the hospital claimed that the rats chewed off the baby's toes, parts of his face and the middle finger. The father of the boy was alleged to have pounced on the doctor on duty and beaten him up on being informed about the death of his baby. A report was allegedly made to the Korle-Bu Police station and the father was locked up. When contacted, Chief Inspector Charles Fandoh of the Korle-Bu Police station, denied knowledge of the case. The Mamprobi Police station and other stations around Korle-Bu have also denied ever receiving such a complaint.