ISLAMABAD: Over 200 children from the orphanage, Pakistan Sweet Homes run by the Pakistan Baitul Mal (PBM), were brought to the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims) and Polyclinic because of food poisoning.

Glucose drips were administered to the children and their stomachs were washed. Fortunately, most children recovered quickly and all, except one, were discharged from the hospital by evening.

Pakistan Baitul Mal Managing Director Abid Waheed Sheikh ordered an inquiry to ascertain what caused food poisoning. For now, it has been decided, that action will not be taken against a group which provides Rs40 million worth of food for over 400 children each year.

Pims spokesperson Dr Ayesha Esani told Dawn that as many as 185 children were brought to Pims.

“The children got sick from either eating contaminated food or unclean water. However, reports will ascertain exactly which food item was toxic,” she said.

Dr Esani said since such a large number of patients arrived at the same time, some children were shifted to the emergency, some to the OPD and others to the Thalassemia Centre.

“By evening all the children were discharged except one named Waseem Khan, who was shifted to the isolation ward,” she said.

The doctor said that although it was a Sunday, the Pims management quickly arrived at the hospital to oversee treatment and it was decided that the hospital will provide transport to the discharged children.

PBM MD Abid Waheed Sheikh told Dawn that there are around 400 children at the home in Sector H-9 and almost half of them were fasting.

“The children ate breakfast around 7am and had milk, bread and eggs. At around 10am, the children started vomiting and some were taken to Pims and others to Polyclinic,” he said.

Published in Dawn, July 6th, 2015

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