Malappuram: An illegal naturopathy clinic at Valakkulam near Kottakkal in the district has been closed after a waterbirth session went wrong causing the death of a baby and put the mother’s life in danger. The Kottakkal Police have launched a probe into the incident based on a complaint by the father-in-law of Haseena Muhammed Kutty, who had excess bleeding during the delivery in a bathtub. Health authorities have found that the clinic had no licence to operate and conduct treatment of pregnant women.
“We are verifying the legality of the certificate of naturopathy possessed by Mr. Habir Haidar, the practitioner who ran the clinic,” said T Suresh Babu, Sub Inspector of Kottakkal who is investigating the case. Haseena Muhammed Kutty remained in critical condition in a private hospital. The investigation done by health authorities has found that the clinic, which was functioning from a rented house in an interior residential area in Valakkulam, does not even have basic facilities.
According to a probe report by Dr. R Renuka, the Deputy District Medical Officer and Reproductive Child Health Officer of Malappuram, three similar cases had been reported from the clinic but went unnoticed as the parties involved made no complaints. Haseena approached the clinic for her fourth delivery and had undergone three Cesarean sections during earlier deliveries. The clinic promised natural birthing options to avoid C section which had attracted more women to the centre. Habir was running the clinic along with his wife, a yoga trainer, for the past few months and has attracted a large number of pregnant women from nearby areas.
