Failure to save newborns

The pain of losing a newborn child cannot be explained, only felt. The risk of this tragedy is regrettably exacerbated by both an inadequate healthcare system and dangerous social norms that push people into untimely parenthood. Proof of this inadequacy lies in recent findings relating to Tharparkar Civil Hospital – the largest government-run health facility in Tharparkar district of Sindh. According to reports, 480 newborn babies have died in the first eight months of 2026 because of malnutrition, low birth weight and other illnesses.

The onus of these deaths falls on systemic failure that affects both the mother and the child. Anemia and acute malnutrition - caused by recurrent droughts and consistent food insecurity in the region - are major factors driving child mortality rates. Neither does a mother receive adequate care during pregnancy, nor does a child after birth. Adding to this, early marriages are an alarming norm in the region, which puts newborn children at further risk. These health issues are only compounded by the conditions in state-run hospitals across the province, where facilities fall far short of providing quality equipment, trained staff and round-the-clock patient monitoring.

It is not as if these issues are solely caused by administrative difficulties, lack of funding or even natural reasons. When questioned about the hospital's failure to successfully treat such a large number of newborn babies, the district health authorities could provide no practical answer for their inability. Their lack of transparency is proof enough that those newborn lives could have been saved if it weren't for the inadequacy of the healthcare system. When the region's largest government hospital is hesitant in being transparent about its system, it leaves no room for meaningful rectification and improvement. The healthcare system first and foremost needs to provide transparency so that accountability can follow.