Tragedy: She was provided a bed when it was too late to save her
15-year-old girl was among many others who suffer due to lack of space at PIMS Burns Centre.
In December last year, Kanwal was preparing bread for her family on a log fire when the flames caught her clothes, leaving her with second degree burns. PHOTO: FILE
ISLAMABAD:
Fifteen-year-old Sobia Kanwal, resident of a katchi abadi in Sector G-7, died last week after a prolonged battle for survival.
“Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Burn Care Centre only provided my daughter a hospital bed when it was too late to save her life,” said Kanwal’s mother, Naseema Bibi, while speaking to The Express Tribune.
In December last year, Kanwal was preparing bread for her family on a log fire when the flames caught her clothes, leaving her with second degree burns.
Kanwal was then taken to the Burn Care Centre at Pims where she was admitted for eleven days before being discharged due to a heavy patient load.
After being discharged from hospital, Kamal had to spend many painful days in a cold, dark room of her house.
“Though my daughter was not in a condition to be kept at home, we were left with no option because of our poor financial situation and refusal by the hospital administration to take her in. We made all efforts to save her life but poverty remained the major hurdle during our struggle. Every second day I used to borrow money to buy medicine and bandages for my daughter,” Bibi said.
Kanwal suffered severe pain as her condition continued to worsen. Fifteen days before her death she suffered renal failure and was unable to urinate, experiencing a quickened heartbeat and loss of appetite, Bibi explained.
She was taken to Pims again, where she failed to survive beyond three days due to her deteriorating health.
“My daughter wanted to live and become a teacher one day, but our helplessness due to poverty prevented her dreams from being fulfilled. I don’t know whether to blame our poverty or this government that has billions to spend on itself but not on the poor people of this country,” said Bibi with tears rolling down her face.
When contacted, the head of Pims Burn Care Centre, Dr Tariq Iqbal, said the patient load doubles in winter, making it difficult to accommodate patrons with just 20 beds at their disposal.
Pims Executive Director Prof Riaz Warraich confirmed that the hospital administration is unable to facilitate all patients coming to the Burn Care Centre for treatment due to a lack of space.
However, the administration is planning to extend the centre’s capacity by adding 30 more beds. Warraich urged the Punjab government to establish extensive Burn Care Centres in Rawalpindi to ease the growing patient load.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.
Fifteen-year-old Sobia Kanwal, resident of a katchi abadi in Sector G-7, died last week after a prolonged battle for survival.
“Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) Burn Care Centre only provided my daughter a hospital bed when it was too late to save her life,” said Kanwal’s mother, Naseema Bibi, while speaking to The Express Tribune.
In December last year, Kanwal was preparing bread for her family on a log fire when the flames caught her clothes, leaving her with second degree burns.
Kanwal was then taken to the Burn Care Centre at Pims where she was admitted for eleven days before being discharged due to a heavy patient load.
After being discharged from hospital, Kamal had to spend many painful days in a cold, dark room of her house.
“Though my daughter was not in a condition to be kept at home, we were left with no option because of our poor financial situation and refusal by the hospital administration to take her in. We made all efforts to save her life but poverty remained the major hurdle during our struggle. Every second day I used to borrow money to buy medicine and bandages for my daughter,” Bibi said.
Kanwal suffered severe pain as her condition continued to worsen. Fifteen days before her death she suffered renal failure and was unable to urinate, experiencing a quickened heartbeat and loss of appetite, Bibi explained.
She was taken to Pims again, where she failed to survive beyond three days due to her deteriorating health.
“My daughter wanted to live and become a teacher one day, but our helplessness due to poverty prevented her dreams from being fulfilled. I don’t know whether to blame our poverty or this government that has billions to spend on itself but not on the poor people of this country,” said Bibi with tears rolling down her face.
When contacted, the head of Pims Burn Care Centre, Dr Tariq Iqbal, said the patient load doubles in winter, making it difficult to accommodate patrons with just 20 beds at their disposal.
Pims Executive Director Prof Riaz Warraich confirmed that the hospital administration is unable to facilitate all patients coming to the Burn Care Centre for treatment due to a lack of space.
However, the administration is planning to extend the centre’s capacity by adding 30 more beds. Warraich urged the Punjab government to establish extensive Burn Care Centres in Rawalpindi to ease the growing patient load.
Published in The Express Tribune, March 19th, 2013.