MITHI: Activists of almost all political parties and civil society staged a powerful demonstration at Kashmir Chowk here on Wednesday in protest against medical superintendent of Mithi Civil Hospital and his staffers, demanding action against them over the death of an expecting mother due to “criminal negligence” a few days back.

The protesters’ leaders Sushil Soni, Kareem Samejo, Tulsi Balani, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s Lajpat Bheel, Abdul Ghani Bajeer of Jamaat-i-Islami, Obhayo Junejo of Awami Tehreek, Pakistan Peoples Party leader Ranjeet Singh, Hafiz Ayub Charo and others told media persons that doctors were trying to “blackmail” Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nawaz Soho after he took serious notice of the death of Naroda Sonaro, who died on the hospital bed due to “criminal negligence” of doctors, especially the gynaecologist, who according to them, had mishandled delivery of the victim. They said that doctors posted in Mithi and other towns of the desert district were not only receiving hardship allowance equivalent to their salaries but also other perks despite the fact that they were least interested in performing their duties in Thar.

“Doctors and their blue-eyed paramedics have turned the hospital into a slaughterhouse where expecting mothers and infants are dying without getting proper care,” they said and demanded high-ups take action against Dr Vistro and his staffers.

They said that the only ‘crime’ of deputy commissioner was that he tried to point out the “butchers” who were ruling the roost at the hospital and were doing nothing to extend any care to Tharis at the only major healthcare facility of the district.

They warned they would extend their protest if departmental action was not taken against the MS, paramedics and lady doctors and OPDs were not reopened by Thursday.

They said that all the leaders of political parties, civil society organisations and business community had decided to observe shutdown strikes in all towns of the district if their demands were not met within next 24 hours.

Meanwhile, late Ms Sonaro’s relatives and minor children also joined the demonstration and demanded registration of an FIR against the doctors, who let their loved one “bleed to death”.

Doctors, paramedics continue boycott

Doctors and paramedics boycotted their duties and staged demonstrations outside hospitals and press clubs in Mithi, Diplo, Islamkot, Chelhar, Chhachhro, Nagar­parkar, Kaloi and other towns on Wednesday.

The protesters’ leaders Dr Dilip Nandani, Dr Aurangzeb Sand, Dr Abha, Dr Aisha and others, who led demonstrations in different towns, told media persons that they were forced to boycott their work after their seniors including Dr Vistro and other staffers were “humiliated and threatened” by the DC during an inquiry into the death of Ms Sonaro.

They said that they were ready to hold talks with authorities only after the DC was transferred.

DC Nawaz Soho outright rejected the allegations levelled against him by the protesting doctors and paramedics and said that he was within his rights to conduct inquiry into the death of a woman, whose relatives had held doctors responsible for her death. Ms Sonaro died while delivering a baby due to alleged negligence of doctors, he said.

He said that he neither summoned any female doctor to his office during the inquiry nor used any abusive or threatening language against Dr Vistro and other doctors.

He had only called Dr Vistro to his office and asked him to clarify his position over the patient’s death in the presence of Mirpurkhas Commissioner Abdul Waheed Shaikh but instead of briefing the inquiry team patiently the MS staged a drama to escape the probe and incited other doctors to boycott work to pressure them into hushing up the matter.

He said that he would not accept any pressure as the initial probe had established that Ms Sonaro had died from excessive bleeding on the hospital’s bed due to alleged negligence of duty doctors and gynaecologist. The responsible doctors would never be able to escape punishment, he said.

Published in Dawn, December 3rd, 2020