Children’s deaths no one’s fault: health department

Initial inquiry report issued late Sunday night contradicts DC’s claim that faulty ACs were to blame

SAHIWAL: The Punjab Health Department did not hold doctors or management of the District Headquarter Hospital, Sahiwal responsible for the deaths of eight children. According to the department’s spokesperson, the media’s reports were baseless and the children did not die due to the non-functioning of the air-conditioners.

A couple of days ago, eight children lost their lives in just 24 hours. Taking notice of the incident, Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid formed a team led by Additional Secretary Health Rafaqat Ali, to look into the matter. The team visited the hospital and recorded statements of the facility’s staff.

While talking to the media, Ali confirmed that the deaths of eight children. He also said that action will be taken against officials for their negligence.

On Sunday night, the health department took a U-turn and issued an initial inquiry report. “Three children died at the DHQ Hospital due to their medical issues,” said the statement, which is problematic because Ali had told the media that eight children died because air-conditioners had stopped working at the facility.

On the other hand, on June 1, when families took to the street to register their protest after the deaths of their children, Sahiwal Deputy Commissioner Mian Zaman Watto received a phone call from an attendant of the ward, informing that infants have started dying due to non-functioning of the air-conditioners.

One June 2, Watoo wrote a letter to the secretary health of the Punjab government. He shared that he visited the ward and found out that the ACs were not working. The ward’s in-charge Dr Shoaib told Watoo that three children have already died. However, he attributed deaths to the medical causes. “I noticed the ward temperature wasn’t normal. I directed staff to remove one of the air-conditioning systems of the Medical Superintendent office and install it in the children’s ward. I learnt that the system of the ward wasn’t working for the last few days. I am appalled at the insensitivity of the hospital’s administration,” read the letter.

Punjab Chief Minister Sardar Usman Buzdar has said that the families will be provided justice.

On Monday, two separate committees visited DHQ Hospital to further investigate the matter.

Published in The Express Tribune, June 4^th, 2019.