Latest news with #Maternal
Scottish Sun
12 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
How ‘Argentina's Lucy Letby' murdered 5 newborns & tried to kill 8 more in chillingly similar case to UK's baby killer
Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) A NURSE in Argentina has been sentenced to life in prison for ruthlessly murdering five newborns and trying to kill eight others. The case bears chilling similarities to that of Brit baby murderer Lucy Letby, the nurse who is serving 15 whole-life sentences for killing seven babies and attempting to murder seven more. 9 Nurse Brenda Aguero has been jailed for the murder of five babies in her care at the Maternal Neonatal Hospital Credit: Alamy 9 Nurse Brenda Cecilia Aguero (C) reacts during her sentencing trial at a courtroom in Cordoba, Argentina Credit: AFP 9 Letby carried out the rampage while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital Brenda Cecilia Aguero, 29, stole deadly doses of potassium and insulin before injecting them into newborn babies between March and June of 2022, prosecutors said. Similarly, Letby was accused of injecting air and insulin into the babies, as well as overfeeding them milk - but has always maintained her innocence. Many have cast doubt over Letby's convictions and others suggest she was targeted in a 'witch hunt'. In the chilling Argentine case, newborns tragically died initially under unexplained circumstances in a maternity hospital in Cordoba province, north-west of Buenos Aires. Baby killer Aguero tried to murder eight other babies between March and June of 2022, but they managed to receive rapid, live-saving medical intervention, local media reports. The 29-year-old will serve at least 35 years in prison before being eligible for parole, under Argentine law. Aguero's mum, Cristina Nobile, mainains her daughter's innocence and told reporters she would continue to press to have her conviction overturned. She added: "My daughter is innocent, and I will continue fighting." Prosecutors alleged during the trial that Aguero's motivation behind the wicked killings was to further her career. They say that she attacked the newborns in order to be the first to notice their symptoms and consequently impress her bosses. How Dutch Lucy Letby who was CLEARED over murder of seven patients, including babies, is 'key to freeing jailed nurse' But with five newborns dying within such a short space of time, the country's Health Ministry launched a probe. An alarming pattern was noticed, with babies having unexplained puncture marks in areas where injections weren't typically administered. Toxicology reports revealed that several of the babies had potassium or insulin levels that they couldn't have produced naturally. And prosecutors argued that Aguero was the only person present during all the harrowing incidents and has "exclusive proximity" to the mums and their babies. Aguero denied the charges and told the court "they have no evidence". She also accused the media of portraying her as a "serial killer". Ten other defendants, including the former health minister in Cordoba as well as the former hospital director, were accused of attempting to cover up the incidents and destroy evidence. Five were found guilty but received shorter sentences, and the five others were acquitted - including the former provincial officials, local media reported. 9 Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders Credit: PA 9 Nurse Brenda Cecilia Aguero reacts during her sentencing hearing at a courtroom in Cordoba, Argentina Credit: AFP 9 Killer nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of ruthlessly murdering seven babies in her care The case bears chilling similarities to that of Brit Letby, now 34, who was last year given a whole life order in prison for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven more at Countess of Chester Hospital. During her ten-month trial, which ended last August when she received a whole life sentence, it was revealed she injected her victims with air or insulin, overfed them and physically abused them with medical tools. An application to appeal against her sentence was rejected in February of this year. She was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. The 35-year-old from Hereford is serving 15 whole-life orders. She lost two attempts to challenged her convictions at the Court of Appeal last year. Separately, Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk was found guilty of killing seven and attempting to kill three of her young patients in 2003 and 2004. Just like Letby's case, prosecutors claimed the smoking gun evidence came from a string of 'sinister' diary entries — and hospital shift patterns which revealed she had been present at all of the deaths. 9 Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk was wrongly convicted of killing seven patients, including babies Credit: Wikipedia 9 De Berk leaving court after her acquittal in 2010 Credit: AFP 9 A note found in the house of Lucy Letby, including comments "I DID THIS" and "I killed them", which was shown at her trial at Manchester Crown Court Credit: Cheshire Constabulary De Berk spent five years behind bars at Scheveningen prison before the case went to the appeal court and was acquitted in 2010. During police raids on Brit Letby's home after her arrest, officers took a specific interest in her diary, as well as other notes found in her bedroom. One such scrawling, which went on to form a key part of the case against her, said: 'I am evil, I did this.' It was emblazoned on a bright Post-It, alongside another saying: 'I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough.' Her diary, meanwhile, found in a bedside drawer, was thought to have contained a sadistic trail of breadcrumbs. These included coloured asterisks, as well as initials and words added to days that occasionally coincided with the dates of deaths or attacks she was later found guilty of.
The Irish Sun
12 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
How ‘Argentina's Lucy Letby' murdered 5 newborns & tried to kill 8 more in chillingly similar case to UK's baby killer
A NURSE in Argentina has been sentenced to life in prison for ruthlessly murdering five newborns and trying to kill eight others. The case bears chilling similarities to that of Brit baby murderer Lucy Letby, the nurse who is serving 15 whole-life sentences for killing seven babies and attempting to murder seven more. Advertisement 9 Nurse Brenda Aguero has been jailed for the murder of five babies in her care at the Maternal Neonatal Hospital Credit: Alamy 9 Nurse Brenda Cecilia Aguero (C) reacts during her sentencing trial at a courtroom in Cordoba, Argentina Credit: AFP 9 Letby carried out the rampage while working at the Countess of Chester Hospital Brenda Cecilia Aguero, 29, stole deadly doses of potassium and insulin before injecting them into newborn babies between March and June of 2022, prosecutors said. Similarly, Letby was accused of injecting air and insulin into the babies, as well as overfeeding them milk - but has always maintained her innocence. Many have cast doubt over Letby's convictions and others suggest she was targeted in a 'witch hunt'. In the chilling Argentine case, newborns tragically died initially under unexplained circumstances in a maternity hospital in Cordoba province, north-west of Buenos Aires. Advertisement read more news Baby killer Aguero tried to murder eight other babies between March and June of 2022, but they managed to receive rapid, live-saving medical intervention, local media reports. The 29-year-old will serve at least 35 years in prison before being eligible for parole, under Argentine law . Aguero's mum, Cristina Nobile, mainains her daughter's innocence and told reporters she would continue to press to have her conviction overturned. She added: "My daughter is innocent, and I will continue fighting." Advertisement Most read in The Sun Breaking Prosecutors alleged during the trial that Aguero's motivation behind the wicked killings was to further her career. They say that she attacked the newborns in order to be the first to notice their symptoms and consequently impress her bosses. How Dutch Lucy Letby who was CLEARED over murder of seven patients, including babies, is 'key to freeing jailed nurse' But with five newborns dying within such a short space of time, the country's Health Ministry launched a probe. An alarming pattern was noticed, with babies having unexplained puncture marks in areas where injections weren't typically administered. Advertisement Toxicology reports revealed that several of the babies had potassium or insulin levels that they couldn't have produced naturally. And prosecutors argued that Aguero was the only person present during all the harrowing incidents and has "exclusive proximity" to the mums and their babies. Aguero denied the charges and told the court "they have no evidence". She also accused the media of portraying her as a "serial killer". Advertisement Ten other defendants, including the former health minister in Cordoba as well as the former hospital director, were accused of attempting to cover up the incidents and destroy evidence. Five were found guilty but received shorter sentences, and the five others were acquitted - including the former provincial officials, local media reported. 9 Letby is serving 15 whole-life orders Credit: PA 9 Nurse Brenda Cecilia Aguero reacts during her sentencing hearing at a courtroom in Cordoba, Argentina Credit: AFP Advertisement 9 Killer nurse Lucy Letby was convicted of ruthlessly murdering seven babies in her care The case bears chilling similarities to that of Brit Letby, now 34, who was last year given a in prison for the murders of seven babies and the attempted murders of seven more at Countess of Chester Hospital. During her ten-month trial, which ended last August when she received a whole life sentence, it was revealed she injected her victims with air or insulin, overfed them and physically abused them with medical tools. An application to appeal against her sentence was rejected in February of this year. Advertisement She was convicted across two trials at Manchester Crown Court of murdering seven babies and attempting to murder seven others. The 35-year-old from Hereford is serving 15 whole-life orders. She lost Court of Appeal last year. Separately, Dutch nurse was found guilty of killing seven and attempting to kill three of her young patients in 2003 and 2004. Advertisement Just like Letby's case, prosecutors claimed the smoking gun evidence came from a string of 'sinister' diary entries — and hospital shift patterns which revealed she had been present at all of the deaths. 9 Dutch nurse Lucia de Berk was wrongly convicted of killing seven patients, including babies Credit: Wikipedia 9 De Berk leaving court after her acquittal in 2010 Credit: AFP 9 A note found in the house of Lucy Letby, including comments "I DID THIS" and "I killed them", which was shown at her trial at Manchester Crown Court Credit: Cheshire Constabulary Advertisement De Berk spent five years behind bars at Scheveningen prison before the case went to the appeal court and was acquitted in 2010. During police raids on Brit Letby's home after her arrest, officers took a specific interest in her diary, as well as other notes found in her bedroom. One such scrawling, which went on to form a key part of the case against her, said: It was emblazoned on a bright Post-It, alongside another saying: 'I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough.' Advertisement Her diary, meanwhile, found in a bedside drawer, was thought to have contained a sadistic trail of breadcrumbs. These included coloured asterisks, as well as initials and words added to days that occasionally coincided with the or attacks she was later found guilty of. Timeline of horror - how Letby targeted babies LUCY Letby carried out her horrific crimes over a 12-month period at Countess of Chester Hospital. She used insulin and air to inject newborns while working on the neo-natal ward. The collapses and deaths of the children were not 'naturally-occurring tragedies' and instead the Her rampage was finally uncovered after staff grew suspicious of the "significant rise" in the number of babies dying or Letby was found to be the "common denominator" among the horrifying incidents. Officers then searched her three-bedroom home in Chester and discovered a The nurse had scribbled The note added: "I don't deserve to live. I killed them on purpose because I'm not good enough to care for them. "I am a horrible person." A probe into whether Letby harmed any other babies at the Countess of Chester Hospital and Liverpool Women's Hospital is ongoing. A corporate manslaughter investigation is also ongoing, as is now a gross negligence manslaughter one.
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Business Standard
09-06-2025
- Health
- Business Standard
PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan marks 9 years, MRR declines by 50 points
India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 50 points in the nine years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). During that time, 6.19 crore women have been examined under the scheme. According to a press note, the government's combined efforts to provide antenatal care and ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women have led to a significant improvement in India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021-23, a reduction of 50 points. According to the note, 6813 volunteers have registered to assist pregnant women under the PMSMA. Maharashtra has topped the list of the most volunteers registered under the scheme till May 2025 with 1131 volunteers, followed by 1076 in Uttar Pradesh and 1015 in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh has the most pregnant women in the second or third trimester receiving antenatal care under the scheme, with 189534 women who have received the facilities. Launched in June 2016, the PMSMA is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was designed to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) services free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month, particularly during the second and third trimesters. The core aim is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies. The press note says that the programme follows a systematic approach to engagement with the private sector, which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign, helping develop strategies for spreading awareness, and participating in the Abhiyan at government health facilities. The PMSMA aligns with the broader goals of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM). The main objectives of the scheme include ensuring that every pregnant woman receives at least one check-up by a physician/specialist during the second or third trimester, improve the quality of care during antenatal visits, identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies (HRP) at an early stage, appropriate birth planning and complication readiness for each pregnant woman, ensuring appropriate management of women with malnutrition and a special focus on adolescent and early pregnancies. The E-PMSMA strategy was rolled out in January 2022 to ensure the tracing and tracking of High-Risk Pregnant (HRP) women until a safe delivery is achieved by provisioning financial incentivisation for the identified HRP women and accompanying Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) for an extra three visits over and above the PMSMA visit, the press note said. Services offered under the scheme include routine antenatal care checkups, diagnostic services, identification and management of high-risk pregnant women, and counselling regarding nutrition, family planning, birth preparedness, and newborn and postnatal care. PMSMA complements other government programs, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which was launched to incentivise institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers. This scheme has benefited over 11.07 crore women as of March 2025, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched to promote free institutional delivery and neonatal care. More than 16.60 crore beneficiaries have been served since 2014-15, LaQshya Initiative for improving quality of care in labour rooms, the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), launched to strengthen respectful and quality care for pregnant women. 90,015 SUMAN health facilities have been notified across the country by March 2025, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, started to target the most vulnerable--children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers--by revamping the nutrition services and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), launched to promote institutional delivery and ensuring maternal health, the scheme provides direct cash benefits of Rs5,000 to pregnant and lactating women.
India Gazette
09-06-2025
- Health
- India Gazette
PM Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan marks 9 years, Maternal Mortality Ratio declines by 50 points
New Delhi [India], June 9 (ANI): India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR) has declined by 50 points in the nine years of Pradhan Mantri Surakshit Matritva Abhiyan (PMSMA). During that time, 6.19 crore women have been examined under the scheme. According to a press note, the government's combined efforts to provide antenatal care and ensure proper nutrition for pregnant women have led to a significant improvement in India's Maternal Mortality Ratio (MMR), which declined from 130 per lakh live births in 2014-16 to 80 per lakh live births in 2021-23, a reduction of 50 points. According to the note, 6813 volunteers have registered to assist pregnant women under the PMSMA. Maharashtra has topped the list of the most volunteers registered under the scheme till May 2025 with 1131 volunteers, followed by 1076 in Uttar Pradesh and 1015 in Rajasthan. Uttar Pradesh has the most pregnant women in the second or third trimester receiving antenatal care under the scheme, with 189534 women who have received the facilities. Launched in June 2016, the PMSMA is a flagship initiative of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India. It was designed to provide assured, comprehensive, and quality antenatal care (ANC) services free of cost to all pregnant women on the 9th of every month, particularly during the second and third trimesters. The core aim is to reduce maternal and neonatal mortality by facilitating early detection and prompt management of high-risk pregnancies. The press note says that the programme follows a systematic approach to engagement with the private sector, which includes motivating private practitioners to volunteer for the campaign, helping develop strategies for spreading awareness, and participating in the Abhiyan at government health facilities. The PMSMA aligns with the broader goals of the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) strategy under the National Health Mission (NHM). The main objectives of the scheme include ensuring that every pregnant woman receives at least one check-up by a physician/specialist during the second or third trimester, improve the quality of care during antenatal visits, identifying and managing high-risk pregnancies (HRP) at an early stage, appropriate birth planning and complication readiness for each pregnant woman, ensuring appropriate management of women with malnutrition and a special focus on adolescent and early pregnancies. The E-PMSMA strategy was rolled out in January 2022 to ensure the tracing and tracking of High-Risk Pregnant (HRP) women until a safe delivery is achieved by provisioning financial incentivization for the identified HRP women and accompanying Accredited Social Health Activists (ASHA) for an extra three visits over and above the PMSMA visit, the press note said. Services offered under the scheme include routine antenatal care checkups, diagnostic services, identification and management of high-risk pregnant women, and counselling regarding nutrition, family planning, birth preparedness, and newborn and postnatal care. PMSMA complements other government programs, including the Janani Suraksha Yojana (JSY), which was launched to incentivise institutional deliveries through conditional cash transfers. This scheme has benefited over 11.07 crore women as of March 2025, the Janani Shishu Suraksha Karyakram (JSSK), launched to promote free institutional delivery and neonatal care. More than 16.60 crore beneficiaries have been served since 2014-15, LaQshya Initiative for improving quality of care in labour rooms, the Surakshit Matritva Aashwasan (SUMAN), launched to strengthen respectful and quality care for pregnant women. 90,015 SUMAN health facilities have been notified across the country by March 2025, the POSHAN Abhiyaan, started to target the most vulnerable--children, adolescent girls, pregnant women, and lactating mothers--by revamping the nutrition services and the Pradhan Mantri Matru Vandana Yojana (PMMVY), launched to promote institutional delivery and ensuring maternal health, the scheme provides direct cash benefits of Rs5,000 to pregnant and lactating women. (ANI)
The Hindu
18-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Rising obesity among Indian women calls for science-based, community and lifecycle-oriented care, study finds
A study published in the Indian Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology Research, supported by the Indian Society of Assisted Reproduction, highlighted an urgent public health concern posed by the rising prevalence of obesity among Indian women in their reproductive year. According to the findings, nearly 50% of Indian women aged 35–49 are living with obesity, with even younger women aged 18–30 increasingly at risk. The health implications of this trend extend from menarche to menopause --spanning complications in fertility, pregnancy, and long-term metabolic health. Early intervention and integrating obesity care across health system Experts in reproductive health and endocrinology say the findings should serve as a wake-up call to rethink India's public health strategies and embed obesity care into all layers of the healthcare system. Addressing obesity in the reproductive years is not just about improving fertility -- it's about preventing lifelong complications,' said Nanditha Palshetkar, medical director at Bloom IVF Lilavati Hospital and former president of The Federation of Obstetric and Gynecological Societies of India (FOGSI). Dr. Palshetkar emphasised the importance of early recognition and education. 'If we manage obesity early, ideally before conception, we can significantly improve outcomes for both mother and child,' she said. 'We must start recognising obesity as a disease,'Dr. Palshetkar said, 'It's often the underlying cause of comorbidities like high cholesterol and fatty liver. Unfortunately, there's a widespread perception that simply 'eating well' at home ensures good health -- which can be misleading. There's a serious lack of awareness. Piya Ballani Thakkar, consultant endocrinologist with a specialisation in diabetes and metabolic disorders, stressed the urgent need to integrate obesity screening and counselling into existing national programmes like --Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health(RMNCH+A) , which focus on women of reproductive age, children, and adolescents. She called for the expansion of dietitian-led services at the primary care level and use of vernacular media in breaking down the science and disease burden. 'In rural areas, ASHA workers can play a vital role. In areas where ASHAs are absent, local NGOs can help. These systems already exist, we just need to incorporate BMI checks, counselling, and awareness about obesity into ongoing programmes like POSHAN -- nutrition mission, anaemia campaigns, and even HIV or TB outreach,' she added. Need for early screening and lifecycle approach The study reports that 33.5% of urban women and 19.7% of rural women are affected by obesity -- largely driven by lifestyle shifts, sedentary jobs, and high-carb diets. The problem is compounded by poor dietary patterns and reduced physical activity, fueling a rise in conditions like gestational diabetes, PCOS, and even increased miscarriage risk in women with a BMI over 30 kg/m². Dr. Ballani emphasised the need for a lifecycle approach to obesity management in women. 'We have to tackle obesity differently across stages. For women trying to conceive, lifestyle modifications are key, and any anti-obesity medications must be stopped prior to pregnancy. During pregnancy, weight gain needs to be closely monitored based on BMI. Postpartum, structured programmes for weight loss, including breastfeeding encouragement and, if necessary, later reintroduction of medications, are essential,'she said She also noted the need for longitudinal birth cohort studies linking maternal BMI to child health outcomes, and suggested that NFHS data should include pre-pregnancy BMI, waist circumference, and granular lifestyle indicators to better inform policy. She also underlined the unique challenges of peri-menopausal and post-menopausal women, pointing to the need to monitor muscle mass, bone health, and screen for metabolic disorders before initiating weight loss interventions. Stepwise treatment model proposed by study The study proposes a stepwise treatment algorithm designed specifically for Indian women, enabling gynaecologists to assess and treat obesity with culturally relevant approaches. The doctors agree that small, sustainable lifestyle changes-- a high-fiber, low-glycemic diet, moderate daily exercise, and community support-- remain the foundation of treatment. In select cases, medication and bariatric surgery may be necessary. Dr. Palshetkar also noted culturally sensitive physical activity programmes like Garba, Bhangra, and Lezim in schools and community groups, especially in villages. 'Children often dislike traditional physical education. But if you bring in dance forms they enjoy, they're more likely to stay active. These interventions need to be fun, inclusive, and culturally rooted,'she said. On clinical guidelines, Dr. Ballani recommended that stepwise obstetrician-gynecologist (OBGYN) algorithms and BMI-specific weight gain targets be translated into simple, actionable checklists for frontline providers. She emphasised that while lifestyle interventions should be the foundation, pharmacological and surgical treatments must be individualised, reserved for severe cases, and coordinated with endocrinology and OBGYN teams. Call for improved obesity care The broader goal, Dr. Palshetkar stressed, is to recognise obesity as a disease, a shift that could push governments to act. 'Just like the World Health Organisation's (WHO) classification of infertility helped raise awareness and mobilise resources, declaring obesity as a disease will help integrate it into public policy and healthcare. Pre-conception counselling must include guidance on achieving a healthy BMI. Telling a woman to take folic acid is good, but if her BMI is over 30, we're missing a key risk factor,' she said. However, recognising obesity purely through a clinical lens isn't enough. Experts stress that stigma, weight bias, and sizeism remain major barriers to understanding and treating obesity effectively. These social attitudes often prevent individuals from seeking help and can even shape how healthcare providers respond to patients, leading to delayed or inadequate care. As India continues to battle non-communicable diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular disorders, experts say that a more compassionate, science-based understanding of women's health -- free from judgment-- could serve as a powerful preventive approach. 'We have observed that children born to mothers living with obesity have a higher risk of developing obesity themselves,' said Dr. Palshetkar. 'To break this cycle, interventions must begin even before conception.
