NAROWAL: A minor girl died at the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital due to alleged negligence of doctors and paramedics.

Fatima, 10, daughter of Aslam, a resident of Pasrur district, Sialkot, was admitted to the DHQ Hospital, Narowal, on Monday. She was suffering from fever and severe abdominal pain. Doctors on duty checked her, prescribed medicine and left.

The paramedics on night duty did not pay attention to Fatima.

Her family members alleged the doctor had gone to sleep in a room while paramedics were chatting and playing games on their mobile phones.

Fatima’s family members kept looking for a doctor when her condition worsened and their pleas to the paramedics to give her treatment fell on deaf ears. Fatima died on the bed of the DHQ Hospital.

After Fatima’s death, the doctors, who were sleeping, rushed to the spot hearing the screams of the family and their protest over the death. Her brother shared the whole story on social media, exposing the management of the hospital.

Her mother, Rashida Bibi, said they did not have enough money to get a girl treated at a private hospital. The cause of Fatima’s death is still not known as doctors did not diagnose the cause of her health problems.

Dr Khalid Javed, the chief executive officer of the District Health Authority, Narowal, sought a report from the DHQ Hospital medical superintendent over the incident. He said a three-member inquiry committee had been formed to investigate the matter and submit a report within two days.

Mr Javed said a strict departmental action would be taken against the negligent doctors and paramedics.

MINE: An India-made 14-pound anti-tank mine was recovered from the rainwater drain. Workers were loading sand into trolleys near the Kingrah Bridge from the nullah Dek in Zafarwal tehsil when the mine was found.

Labourer Muhammad Ehsan saw a suspicious iron box and immediately told the Zafarwal Police Station about it. The Bomb Disposal Squad reached the spot and defused the mine.

District Civil Defense Officer Asim Riaz Wahla said anti-tank mine weighed about 14 pounds.

Published in Dawn, August 11th, 2021