Child mortality: Nine newborns die in Tharparkar

Effects of drought on pregnant and lactating women main reason for high child mortality.

HYDERABAD:

Death continues to stalk the drought hit-Tharparkar district of Sindh where nine more neonate deaths were reported during the last 24 hours.

“Eight of these newborn babies died a few days after their birth at the Civil Hospital Mithi and one in Nagarparkar Taluka Hospital,” according paediatrician Dr Sahib Dino.

He told local reporters that seven newborns died in the hospital – while the eighth was referred to Karachi and died on the way. “The mothers [who gave birth to these babies] appeared to be too weak. Some of them delivered premature and others gave birth to underweight children.”

Around 250 to 300 neonatal deaths have been reported in Tharparkar district during the last five months. The effects of the persistent drought conditions on pregnant and lactating women have been identified as one of the main reasons for the alarming child mortality rate.

However, despite these pressing conditions, no measures appear to have been taken by the health authorities to ensure that babies born to such women can be saved.

The civil surgeon of the hospital, Nale Changon Rahimo, could not be contacted for his comments.

Published in The Express Tribune, May 18^th, 2014.