TOBA TEK SINGH: The nurses of Khanewal District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital on Friday blocked the National Highway for traffic in protest against the arrest of a colleague, accused of negligence resulting in the death of three minor children at the facility on last Wednesday.

The protesting nurses chanted slogans against the District Health Authority (DHA) chief executive officer (CEO), demanding his suspension from the service.

During the protest, one of the nurses fell unconscious because of the scorching heat and was shifted to the emergency ward of the DHQ hospital for provision of first aid.

Following the death of three minor children because of “reaction of antibiotics” at the local DHQ hospital, Khanewal city police, on Thursday night, had registered a case against a nurse, Aqsa Afaq, under section 322 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) for her alleged negligence.

Nishtar nurses, YDA join agitation

The case against Ms Afaq was registered on the complaint of DHA CEO Dr Umer Ghouri.

The CEO alleged in the FIR that, the nurse administered Efarex Ceftriaxon antibiotic injections to the children without adopting SOPs, causing the children’s death.

Afaq Ahmad, father of the arrested nurse, told reporters that he had not been informed by police about his daughter’s arrest.

Alleging that his daughter was arrested without registration of a case “like a terrorist”, saying that 10 police vans besieged the hospital to arrest her.

Later, on being assured of early release of Aqsa Afaq by PML-N MPA from Khanewal Rana Saleem Hanif, the nurses ended their protest and strike.

The MPA told reporters that he will meet chief minister to apprise her of the situation.

Meanwhile, in the Nishtar Hospital, Multan, nurses and paramedic staff observed a strike to condemn the arrest and took out a rally demanding immediate release of Aqsa Afaq.

Similarly, nurses of Multan’s Children’s Hospital also observed strike.

The Khanewal chapter of the Young Doctors’ Association (YDA) blamed medicines for the children’s death and demanded immediate release of the arrested nurse.

BOOKED: An attendant of a heart patient had been booked on the charge of misbehaving withJhang DHQ Hospital medical superintendent and two cardiology ward consultant doctors, using abusive language and threatening them with dire consequences.

Complainant Dr Hafiz Tahir Usman stated in the FIR Irfan, a resident of Bhakkar Road, misbehaved with doctors.

Published in Dawn, June 15th, 2024