Premature infants fail to survive in Thar

KARACHI- An official report revealed the current health state of District Tharparkar, stating that, out of a total number of 192 children admitted to District and Taluka hospitals of Tharparkar, five premature newborns having low weight, died.

The Government of Sindh has now declared Tharparkar as a drought-stricken district, where relief activities have begun.

Deputy Commissioner Tharparkar, Asif Jameel, in his report stated that, 553 children between ages one to five were treated in the Outpatient departments (OPD) in the District and Taluka hospitals of Tharparkar.

Earlier, 58 children were brought to the hospitals in precarious condition, where treatment of 76 children was already in progress.

According to the report, out of 192 admitted patients, 21 have been discharged, once their condition became stable.

04 children born with low weight were brought to the Emergency of Civil Hospital Mithi, from different areas of Tharparkar, but they could not survive despite hectic efforts of pediatricians.

The Medical Superintendent, Civil Hospital Mithi reported facts for each expiry as under:

A baby boy, S/o Shaukat Sahar, resident of village Hamirabah, born in a private clinic of Taluka Kaloi with a weight of 3.7 kg. He was admitted with birth asphyxia complaint. Necessary treatment was given as per protocol, but the child could not survive.

A baby boy, S/o Nando Meghwar, resident of Islamkot, was born weighing 01 kg. He presented with complications of preterm birth and Respiratory distress syndrome (RDS). Necessary care was given, but he didn’t respond well to the treatment and expired.

Tanisha, D/o Harish Meghwar, aged 12 days, was born with a weight of 1.4 kg. She was admitted with Neonatal Sepsis. Despite of treatment, the child expired.

Chanda, D/o Ramoon Thakur, aged 19 days, a home born baby, weighed 1.2 kg and was also admitted due to Neonatal sepsis, but couldn’t survive.

The Medical Superintendent, Taluka Hospital Chachro reported facts in relation to the expiry of a child at his hospital:

Parsan, aged 02 months, S/o Aachar Bheel, resident of village Keetar, Taluka Dahli, home born weighed 3.5 kg. He was admitted after suffering from severe pneumonia and fits. Necessary treatment was given to the child as per protocol, but he couldn’t survive.

According to the Deputy Commissioner’s report to Sindh’s Chief Minister, 690 children were recently treated in the OPDs of 31 BHUs and 18 Government Dispensaries, operating under the administrative control of PPHI.

Upon the instructions of Sindh Chief Minister, the Population Welfare Department of Tharparkar District has set up awareness camps regarding Family planning, tubal ligation and Jadelle contraceptive procedures in 12 villages.

Highlighting the ongoing relief activities, 5890 families were provided with wheat under Phase-III. Moreover, 57 families of Phase-II were given 50 kg wheat bags.

247,209 families in Phase-I, 252,081 in Phase-II and 93,440 in Phase-III have received wheat bags at the scale of 50 kg.

Distribution of family ration bags (FRB) amongst pregnant and lactating women is also in progress. Approximately, 65,314 bags have been distributed in Phase-II and 36,656 were distributed in Phase-I.

As per the report, the Livestock Department also set up veterinary camps in 10 villages of different talukas. Camps have been set in Mithi, Diplo, Dahli and Nagarparkar, one each, four in Islamkot and two in Taluka Chachro. At these camps, around 8568 animals were vaccinated, whereas 339 were drenched. 20 animals were also given required treatment at these camps.