Steps to prevent theft of babies

In a bid to put an end to the “mixing” of newborn and the alleged “lifting” of male babies from the Erode GH and to avoid the ensuing conflicts, the footprints of the babies will be maintained as records in the Medical Record Department along with the details of the respective parents.

This initiative is first of its kind mooted in the Erode GH and comes close to the increasing number of babies being swapped besides the babies that go missing from the maternity wards in the hospital.

The simple procedure would help avoid the complicated, time consuming and expensive DNA tests, Dr. Hussain Ali told this newspaper.

The impression of the right foot is taken of the male babies and left of the female.

With an average of 18 deliveries per day, footprints that are as unique as the fingerprints have been made mandatory.

Initially CCTVs were suggested to keep an eye on the mishappenings at the labour wards. Even if funds for these could be managed it was not foolproof and could be manipulated unlike the footprints, he said.