MITHI: A newborn died soon after his mother’s delivery performed by a sympathiser outside the Chelhar basic health unit (BHU) on Saturday. Her family and relatives alleged that the tragic episode happened to them after the BHU staff refused to handle the case and forced them to take the woman to the faraway Mithi Civil Hospital.

The woman, Teeja Bheel, was rushed to the BHU in a state of extreme labour pain, her husband, Khushal Bheel, told local reporters. He claimed that instead of providing emergency medical assistance to her, the BHU staff did not allow her treatment and made her leave. He said she delivered the baby under the shadow of trees outside the health facility with the help of a woman who sympathised with them. However, he added, the newborn died soon after the delivery.

The shocked husband accused the BHU staff of apathy leading to the tragedy.

A resident of nearby Khori village, Khushal approached the district administration for action against the BHU staff. Tharparkar Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Nawaz Soho asked the district health officer (DHO) to visit the BHU, collect facts about the whole episode and submit a report to him at the earliest.

Leader of the Opposition in the Sindh Assembly Haleem Adil Shaikh condemned the alleged apathy on the part of the BHU staff and demanded action against all those responsible for the newborn’s death.

In a statement, he also criticised the Sindh government for failing to ensure proper medical facilities at Thar’s health centres.

Published in Dawn, February 7th, 2021