MIRPURKHAS: Seven more infants lost their lives on Sunday in Mithi Civil Hospital, taking the death toll to over 439, health officials said.
Those lost their lives included ten month old Safeeruddin, Khenraj of 7 months, three year old Prem Kumar, Mubarak Ali of three months, Ali Bajeer of ten days and two newborns, Roshan Meghwar and Ramchand Kolhi.
Health officials told that these seven deaths had taken the toll to 439, while official details gathered from various independent sources confirms that, so far, during the current year, over 568 kids below five years of age had died due to outbreaks of various diseases and malnutrition. Parents of ailing kids complained about uncaring attitude of caregivers at government hospitals and lack of facilities.
Sher Afzal Khan, the CEO of Australian Multicultural Charity, which is working in Thar on health and nutrition issues, said the government should focus on nutrition of pregnant women and weak kids. “Kids will continue to die until the basic issues like nutrition, safe drinking water and healthcare facilities are not ensured at the door steps,” He added
Dr Shaikh Tanweer Ahmed, the CEO of the Health and Nutrition Development Society (HANDS) has urged the Sindh government to provide food and basic healthcare facilities to “would be” mothers in remote areas.
“The situation in Thar has taken an alarming turn as according to the health officials, only this month of November, 40 kids have died so far in government hospitals of the district,” he added.
