14,000 infant deaths reported

JEDDAH: The number of infants who died in the Kingdom during the Hijrah year 1428 (2007-8) was approximately 14,000, according to a report issued by the Ministry of Municipal and Rural Affairs. The largest number of infant deaths was reported in Makkah (5,392), followed by Riyadh (4,152) and the Eastern Province (1,196). About 29 percent of these were children of expatriate workers, Shams Arabic daily reported.