KASUR: The death of an infant apparently due to ‘tetanus’ sent a wave of shock at a small village Meer Muhammad near Raja Jang, some 30 kilometres off here.

Doctors at Children’s Hospital in Lahore, where the child was treated for a few days, claimed that tetanus was the cause of death and that it was due to a lack of vaccination of the mother.

Six children died of ‘diphtheria’ in two villages of Kanganpur two months ago and many are still being treated against the infectious disease.

Muhammad Nawaz, a daily wager, said his newborn died due to negligence of the health department. He said his wife Rashida Bibi was not vaccinated at the Basic Health Unit near his village despite visiting it many times.

He said he went to a small private hospital to have his baby delivered and borrowed money from his relatives to make sure everything goes well.

A few days after the birth, he said, the child had fits and was taken to Children’s Hospital where he died after one week. The doctors told him that the child was infected as the mother was not vaccinated against the disease, he said.

According to the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation and Medical Association, 25,000 children die of tetanus in Pakistan every year.

Dr Sanaullah of Ashraf Medical Complex explained, “it is a bacterial disease that produces neurotoxins after entering the body through a wound affecting brain and nervous system.”

He further said every expecting mother should be vaccinated during the last three months to avoid tetanus to the newborn.

He also said another cause of neonatal tetanus was the use of unsterilised instruments.

Dr Nazir Ahmed, deputy district officer health, said it was the responsibility of the vaccinator to accommodate every person and stern action would be taken against him if found guilty.

EDO Health Dr Tariq Masood said there was one doctor at the Raja Jang BHU for more than 200 patients and this anomaly should be removed.

He blamed the child’s death on the untrained midwives who use unsterilised instruments.

Published in Dawn, October 22nd, 2016