Wave of Infant Death Investigated in South Africa

May 28 - With 181 infant deaths reported in one facility since January and a general wave of infant deaths in state hospitals being recorded, the South African health department is setting up an investigation team.

Fidel Hadebe, spokesperson for the health ministry, reported that "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."

He continued: "The Director General of the Ministry has visited the hospital and is going back again on Thursday. We will leave no stone unturned."

The specific hospital he is referring to is the Nelson Mandela Academic Hospital in the rural town of Mthatha - the hospital has reported the largest incidence of infant deaths.

In South Africa, where most people cannot afford private health insurance, the state hospitals are their only port of call for medical emergencies.

South Africa's infant mortality rate is high compared to developed countries with the rate of infant deaths in South Africa reaching 44 for every 1,000 compared to Sweden which sees 3.2 out of every 1,000 infants dying.