316 Tharparkar children died in a year | Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF)

Pakistan Press Foundation

316 Tharparkar children died in a year

Pakistan Press Foundation

KARACHI: Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Hussain Dahar on Thursday said 316 children died in Tharparkar during one year which shows that the infant mortality rate of the area was less than one child in a day that was far less than other areas of the country.
He was addressing a press conference along with health secretary Alamuddin Bullo on current situation in Tharparkar at his office.
The minister said the causes of their death were also different with health condition of mother and children and therefore the government was focusing on the issue to resolve this issue. He said during the last 12 months, right from January 14 to December 14, 316 children died in Tharparkar district, of them only nine children died due to malnutrition. “It is important to note that out of 316 children, 83 died due to pre-term birth and low birth weight,” he said.
Giving details of the diseases which claimed lives of the innocent children, he said during the last one year pre-term and low birth weight claimed the lives of 83 infants, birth asphyxia claimed 56 lives, severe pneumonia took 51 lives, neo natal sepsis took 38 lives, sepsis took 18 lives, respiratory distress took 10 lives, malnutrition took nine lives, diarrhea took 8 lives and other different diseases took 43 lives.
“Since the causes of the infant mortality in Thar are different but we have identified that poor mother-child health has claimed more lives therefore special focus is being given to mother-child health,” the minister said. Dahar claimed the health facilities were improved in Tharparkar hospitals and recently they had appointed lady doctors, specialists such as gynecologists, peadiatritions and surgeon for improving the health facilities. “Life-saving medicines, including anti-snake bite serum, anti-rabies and such other have been provided in plenty,” he said.
To a question regarding improvement in government hospitals, the minister said a board comprising members of civil society, journalists, philanthropists and people of good repute were being constituted on district level. The board will monitor each and everything including supplies of medicines, patient’s welfare, doctors’ attendance, free of cost provision of medicines and lab facilities. “This would be our ear and eyes on district level. I am sure it would produce genuine results to redress public grievances.”
Dahar said that the doctors of Aga Khan and Indus hospital visited the hospitals of Tharparkar and expressed satisfaction on the facilities being provided there and lauded the government efforts.
Speaking over promotion of doctors, he said 32 doctors were being promoted from grade B-19 to B-20 while other 280 doctors’ promotions from grade 18 to 19 were also in progress. “The promotions of 716 doctors from grade 17 to 18 will be made as soon as their ACRs are completed,” he assured.
Meanwhile, in a statement issued on Monday, the minister expressed sorrow and strongly condemned attack on Assistant Professor of Dow University and Health Science Dr Zubair. He said the killers of innocent people especially doctors were the enemies of humanity. They were worst than animals and must be condemned at every level. “Being united, we can defeat these terrorists and unity will be a deathly blow to them. Sindh government is taking every action strictly against the killers of doctors and very soon, the attackers of assistant Professor Dr Zubair will be arrested,” he added.

The Nation