Eight newborns die at Sahiwal hospital
Committee formed to probe deaths caused reportedly due to malfunctioning of air conditioning system at children's...
Committee formed to probe deaths caused reportedly due to malfunctioning of air conditioning system at children's ward. PHOTO: FILE
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.
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”.
She said the people of Punjab were missing former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif’s governance.
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.
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”.
She said the people of Punjab were missing former chief minister Shehbaz Sharif’s governance.