Eight newborns die at Sahiwal hospital

Committee formed to probe deaths caused reportedly due to malfunctioning of air conditioning system at children's...

LAHORE: At least eight newborn babies died at the District Headquarter Hospital, Sahiwal on Sunday.

Hospital sources said five babies died a natural death, while three lost their lives apparently due to staff’s negligence after the air conditioning system in the children’s ward stopped working.

A special committee was formed to probe the tragic incident on the directives of Punjab Chief Minister Usman Buzdar, who also sought a detailed report over the incident.

ساہیوال ہسپتال میں معصوم بچوں کے جاں بحق ہونے کے واقعہ پر تحقیقات کے بعد غفلت کے ذمہ دار افراد کے خلاف سخت کارروائی کا حکم دیا ہے

ایسا واقعہ کسی صورت قابل برداشت نہیں
اس واقعہ پر پنجاب حکومت کی تمام تر ہمدردیاں جاں بحق بچوں کے لواحقین کے ساتھ ہیں

— Usman Buzdar (@UsmanAKBuzdar) June 2, 2019

The air conditioning unit at the paediatric ward was later replaced with the one installed at the office of hospital’s medical superintendent on the directives of the Sahiwal deputy commissioner, who assured the provincial government that the incident was being investigated.

Meanwhile, a provincial health ministry spokesperson said a special committee was formed to thoroughly investigate the matter and would submit a report over it at the earliest.

The outraged parents and relatives of the victims staged protests against negligence of the hospital administration amid fears of an increase in the death toll.

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice President Maryam Nawaz also came down hard on the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government over the incident, terming it a case of “criminal negligence”.

Not saying this because I am related to you but Punjab sorely misses you. Today almost a dozen infants have lost their lives due to criminal negligence but no one is even visible let alone standing with the aggrieved. We miss you Shahbaz Sharif! https://t.co/tZ9kimf0nS

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) June 2, 2019

She said the people of Punjab were missing former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif’s governance.

سرکاری خرچ پر عمرہ میں مصروف جعلی حکمرانوں کو اس وقت اس دل خراش واقعے پر یہاں موجود ہونا چاہے تھا۔ کہا جا رہا ہے کہ جاں بحق ہونے والے بچوں کی تعداد پانچ سے کہیں زیادہ ہے مگر چھپایا جا رہا ہے۔ کیا حکمرانوں کی اپنی اولاد نہیں ہے؟ اگر ہے تو آپ کا احساس کہاں سویا ہوا ہے؟ pic.twitter.com/SiSr8Htc52

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) June 2, 2019

ساہیوال کے اسپتال میں پانچ نومولود بچوں کی موت دل ہلا دینے والا واقعہ ظلم ہے ہے جس کا سبب مجرمانہ غفلت ہے۔ اپنی ذمہ داریوں سے غافل نا اہل حکمرانوں کو کوئی جھنجھوڑے اور بتائے کہ ان اموات کےذمہ دار وہ ہیں اور اس غفلت کا جواب انکو دنیا اور آخرت دونوں میں دینا ہو گا۔ ظالمو جواب دو pic.twitter.com/Ghy6jThDBw

— Maryam Nawaz Sharif (@MaryamNSharif) June 2, 2019