Parents bring newborn to hospital in a bag

HYDERABAD: A premature baby was brought inside a duffel bag to Civil hospital Mithi on Thursday, leaving the hospital staff shocked. The baby was born to a labourer, Sanoon Bheel, in Mitthi’s village Malnhor Khanji.

Bheel, along with relatives, brought his baby covered with clothes in a bag to keep it warm. The baby was immediately put on oxygen and is currently under treatment. The parents said that the baby was born before time and in order to keep it warm and safe until they reached the hospital, they didn’t know what else to do.  



According to a leading eyecare hospital, more than eighty per cent of premature babies who weigh less than 1.5 kilogrammes at the time of birth are at the risk of developing disorganised growth of retinal blood vessels which can cause vision problems including permanent blindness.



Babies born before 266 days have many obstacles to overcome in their first fragile weeks, one of which is eye development that can be resolved through screening and surgical procedure to help avoid serious eyesight problems later in the life.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 16^th, 2018.