Four more children died in Thar's Mithi and Nagarparkar hospitals over the past three days, raising the death toll to 98 since January 1, 2017, and Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Mian Saqib Nisar directed the Sindh chief secretary to submit a report on infant deaths in Thar within 36 hours.

Justice Nisar took sou moto notice of the issue in March 2017 after a media report highlighted the plight of more than 11,000 ailing children who were brought to six different health facilities in Mithi District for treatment since the beginning of this year.

The report also drew attention to vulnerabilities pertaining to water crises, health care, and remoteness in the area as the most crucial factors exacerbating existing conditions, while the affected children's parents complained of a lack of facilities at hospitals.

District Health Officer Tharparkar Dr Akhlaq Ahmed told Dawn that 9,187 infants had been admitted to six facilities across the district, out of which 98 children below the age of five lost their lives, while 145 were referred to teaching hospitals in Karachi and Hyderabad.

Dr Akhlaq was uncertain, however, whether those referred to the other hospitals had died or survived on their ways to the hospitals.

He confirmed that he had sent a detailed report to his superiors after the Supreme Court took notice of the infant deaths.

Opinion

Editorial

Kurram atrocity
Updated 22 Nov, 2024

Kurram atrocity

It would be a monumental mistake for the state to continue ignoring the violence in Kurram.
Persistent grip
22 Nov, 2024

Persistent grip

PAKISTAN has now registered 50 polio cases this year. We all saw it coming and yet there was nothing we could do to...
Green transport
22 Nov, 2024

Green transport

THE government has taken a commendable step by announcing a New Energy Vehicle policy aiming to ensure that by 2030,...
Military option
Updated 21 Nov, 2024

Military option

While restoring peace is essential, addressing Balochistan’s socioeconomic deprivation is equally important.
HIV/AIDS disaster
21 Nov, 2024

HIV/AIDS disaster

A TORTUROUS sense of déjà vu is attached to the latest health fiasco at Multan’s Nishtar Hospital. The largest...
Dubious pardon
21 Nov, 2024

Dubious pardon

IT is disturbing how a crime as grave as custodial death has culminated in an out-of-court ‘settlement’. The...