Four more children die in Thar

HYDERABAD:

Four more children, including a newborn, died in Tharparkar, where the ongoing drought has reportedly claimed up to 190 children's lives.

Two of these deaths occurred in Nangarparkar and one each in Islamkot and Mithi talukas. Five-year-old Mukesh Meghwadh and four-year-old Wasram Kolhi died in their villages in Nangarparkar, while 14-month-old Prem Kolhi passed away in Islamkot. A newborn baby in Civil Hospital, Mithi, did not survive a day after his birth. According to the paediatrician, Dr Anil Kumar, the deceased baby was underweight as it was a premature birth.

As many as 186 posts of doctors are lying vacant in Tharparkar's government hospitals and health centres, according to the district health officer, Dr Jaleel Bhurgari. To fill these vacancies, the health department, earlier this month, transferred 27 doctors from other districts but only 12 of them showed up for duty. Dr Bhurgari claimed that these 15 doctors were using sources to get their transfer orders cancelled.

Separately, another 52 doctors, whose list is available with The Express Tribune, are being appointed by the health department. The department's director general, Dr Hafeezul Haq Memon, told The Express Tribune that 52 of the 160 doctors who qualified in the appointment test will be issued orders in a few days.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 27^th, 2014.