12 children under five die in Tharparkar in two days

Bereaved father complains of lack of facilities at Civil Hospital, Mithi

HYDERABAD: Child mortality seems to have revisited the desert region of Tharparkar as 12 deaths of children were reported from Civil Hospital, Mithi during Saturday and Sunday. The deceased children were up to five years old and their deaths were caused by various health issues.

In reaction to the news, the provincial government has reportedly removed the hospital's civil surgeon, Dr Iqbal Ahmed Bhurgari.

In the meantime, Tharparkar District and Sessions Judge Jamshed Aiwan directed two civil judges to conduct an inquiry and submit its report. The judges, Abdul Qadir Khoso and Sajjad Chandio, visited the hospital and met the parents of the deceased children.



Sources at the hospital identified some of the deceased children. They included five-year-old Zahidan, three-year-old Hakim, three-year-old Javed, nine-month-old Shahidan, four-month-old Sapna Kailash and three-month-old Samad Ali. Six other infants also died at the hospital.

Talking to the local media, a man, Abdul Ghani, who lost his 11-day-old daughter, complained of lack of facilities at the hospital.