MITHI: Twelve more children died from complications caused by malnutrition and seasonal viral infections in drought-hit Thar during three days, raising the death toll to 36 within the past fortnight, according to hospital sources.

The sources told this reporter on Wednesday that 10 of the children died in Mithi Civil Hospital and two breathed their last in taluka hospitals of Nagarparkar and Chhachhro. No health department official was available for comment on the deaths of infants.

The victims’ parents repeated their complaints about lack of healthcare facilities in their areas and said the highly contaminated water of wells, which they were forced to drink, was causing waterborne diseases among humans as well as livestock.

However, PPP MNA Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani said in a press statement that most of the children who died were underweight newborns and claimed that the situation was under control in the desert region despite severe drought.

He said that the Sindh government had launched a number of programmes to provide quality healthcare facilities and guide Tharis about adopting birth control methods.

Published in Dawn, January 17th, 2019