Gone too soon: Five newborns die from doctors’ ‘negligence’

Khairpur DC says babies were unhealthy when brought to the hospital

SUKKUR:

As many as five newborns died on Saturday night due to shortage of oxygen at Civil Hospital, Khairpur, according to the babies’ families.

Parents of the deceased, including Mehboob Ali Bozdar of Wada Bozdar village, Sarwar Solangi of Kumb, Muhammad Ishaq Arejo of Pir Jo Goth, Maula Bux Sarohi of Ali Bux Sarohi village and Shoukat Ali of Ali Muhammad village, blamed doctors and paramedical staff of negligence while treating their newborns.





Neither doctors nor the paramedics are performing their duties properly, especially the night duty staff, claimed the parents. They said the staff failed to provide proper care to their loved ones despite repeated requests.

Taking notice of the incident, Sindh Chief Minister Qaim Ali Shah and health minister Jam Mehtab Dahar ordered the Khairpur district health officer and DC to probe the matter and hold the culprits accountable.

However, confirming the deaths, Khairpur deputy commissioner (DC) Munawar Ali Mithyani said there was no shortage of oxygen or ventilators at the hospital.



Ruling out negligence of doctors or paramedics, he said the babies were not healthy when they were brought to the hospital. Nobody can be blamed for the deaths, he added.

“I have probed the matter and found no negligence on part of the staff or any shortage of oxygen [at the hospital],” said Mithyani.

The hospital’s medical superintendent, Dr Razia Sultana, was not available for comments.

Hospital officials, requesting anonymity, termed the parents’ allegations true. Most of the doctors and paramedics are not at their designated posts during the night, while those on duty pay little attention to patients, they said.



Sources explained that the hospital often remains out of oxygen, and only has five ventilators while the number of births occurring there is far more. Most of the lady doctors advise expecting mothers to visit their private clinics for delivery, the sources added.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 4^th, 2016.