Rat bite incident: Top Chandka Children Hospital officials suspended

MS and others have been directed to report to the health department in Karachi.

SUKKUR: Sindh chief secretary Muhammad Siddique Memon has suspended Chandka Children Hospital's medical superintendent (MS), Dr Muneer Ahmed Jokhio, and neonatology ward incharge Dr Manzoor Soomro for negligence. Last week two newborn babies were bitten by rats while in the neonatology ward.

Additional medical superintendent Dr Akhtar Dayo, deputy medical superintendent Dr Sattar Shaikh and supervisor Mukhtiar Shah have also been transferred by the health secretary. They have been directed to report to health department in Karachi immediately. All the nurses and paramedics of the neonatology ward have also been suspended. Sindh health secretary Dr Saeed Ahmed Mangnejo told the media that the action was taken in the wake of the findings of the inquiry committee, which comprised additional technical health secretary Dr Aslam Pechuho and health director-general Miran Muhammad Shah. He said that the chief minister also took serious notice of the incident.

On Wednesday, all these doctors, including the current MS Dr Khalil Ahmed Katpar, appeared before the District and Sessions Judge, Larkana, except Dr Jokhio, who failed to submit a reply to the notice. Dr Jokhio has already been transferred and directed to report to the health department. The court ordered all these doctors to appear again on March 21 and also issued notices to all the staff, from the security guards to duty doctor posted when the incident occurred, to appear before the court to record their statements.

Meanwhile, the new hospital administration has intensified its cleanliness drive in all five blocks of the hospital but they are facing an acute shortage of sanitation staff and the ban imposed on fresh recruitments has added to their problems.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 17^th, 2016.