SARGODHA: Six newborns died during the last 24 hours in the DHQ hospital due to alleged mismanagement and faulty air-conditioners in the children’s wards.

The families of the children alleged that the hospital management failed to keep the air-conditioners of the wards functional in the last three months. They besieged the office of the medical superintendent and chanted slogans demanding registration of criminal cases against the management.

Muhammad Afzal, a relative of one of the newborns, said that many patients had informed Prime Minister Imran Khan during his visit to the hospital last month that the hospital was concealing facts and showing him those wards where the air-conditioners were functional.

MS denies allegations, says children died due to premature birth

The grieved families alleged that the air-conditioners of the VIP wards and doctors’ rooms had been changed but children’s ward ACs were neither repaired nor replaced.

MS Dr Shabbir denied the allegations and said four children died due to premature birth. He said the children’s ward was being properly maintained despite budgetary constraints.

Punjab Health Minister Dr Yasmin Rashid sought a report from the MS regarding the death of children during the last 24 hours. She directed the health secretary to conduct an inquiry and take stern action against anyone found guilty of negligence.

Four months ago six newborns died at the same health facility due to, what the families alleged, a lack of incubators and faulty air-conditioning.

Published in Dawn, August 17th, 2019