Eight infants die in Sargodha hospital allegedly due to staff negligence
Three-member committee formed to investigate the deaths
FAISALABAD:
Eight infants lost their lives in District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Sargodah on Wednesday allegedly due to absence of proper facilities and staff negligence, Express News reported.
Over the course of 24 hours, eight children who were in critical condition died as they were not provided enough oxygen and subjected to poor conditions in the nursery ward.
A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the deaths.
The nursery ward of the DHQ hospital has 25 beds, however, it was catering to 50 children, with two children on one bed. Also, only five incubators were functioning properly when 20 children were in need of them.
Further, mothers of the deceased infants complained of lack of oxygen in the ward and doctors not catering to the children in critical condition. They accused doctors of either sleeping during their duty or putting nurses in charge.
This is just one of several unfortunate cases in which resources fall short and negligent staff are at fault for the death of infants.
Speaking to Express News, Dr Sikander Warraich of DHQ denied these accusations and said the ICU and nursery were properly supplied with oxygen. He also stated that four doctors were on duty during the night shift and were catering to the medical needs of all the children.
He further explained that of the eight children, six were born prematurely and were in critical condition upon their arrival at DHQ hospital.
Dr Warraich also added that strict action would be taken against those doctors who failed to perform their duties, especially those found to be asleep while on call.
Contrary to the Dr Warraich's statement, Express News correspondent Nafasat Hussain reported that oxygen cylinders were being shifted from one room to another by hospital staff and that the ward capacity was not sufficient for all the children, meaning that doctors could not perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
Plans to expand the hospital are underway with a new building constructed nearby and will be made functional by December 10.
Eight infants lost their lives in District Headquarters Hospital (DHQ) Sargodah on Wednesday allegedly due to absence of proper facilities and staff negligence, Express News reported.
Over the course of 24 hours, eight children who were in critical condition died as they were not provided enough oxygen and subjected to poor conditions in the nursery ward.
A three-member committee has been formed to investigate the deaths.
The nursery ward of the DHQ hospital has 25 beds, however, it was catering to 50 children, with two children on one bed. Also, only five incubators were functioning properly when 20 children were in need of them.
Further, mothers of the deceased infants complained of lack of oxygen in the ward and doctors not catering to the children in critical condition. They accused doctors of either sleeping during their duty or putting nurses in charge.
This is just one of several unfortunate cases in which resources fall short and negligent staff are at fault for the death of infants.
Speaking to Express News, Dr Sikander Warraich of DHQ denied these accusations and said the ICU and nursery were properly supplied with oxygen. He also stated that four doctors were on duty during the night shift and were catering to the medical needs of all the children.
He further explained that of the eight children, six were born prematurely and were in critical condition upon their arrival at DHQ hospital.
Dr Warraich also added that strict action would be taken against those doctors who failed to perform their duties, especially those found to be asleep while on call.
Contrary to the Dr Warraich's statement, Express News correspondent Nafasat Hussain reported that oxygen cylinders were being shifted from one room to another by hospital staff and that the ward capacity was not sufficient for all the children, meaning that doctors could not perform their duties to the best of their abilities.
Plans to expand the hospital are underway with a new building constructed nearby and will be made functional by December 10.