Mithi civil hospital: 480 newborns die in eight months

The Civil Hospital Mithi has registered deaths of 480 newborn babies in the first eight months of this year, malnutrition, low birth weight and other diseases being identified as the causes of the fatalities.

According to the hospital data, 2,732 youngsters were hospitalized to the hospital between January and August. The monthly death toll was 70 in January, 39 in February, 54 in March, 47 in April, 65 in May, 75 in June, 69 in July and 61 in August.

The records also show that 1,387 children were discharged following recovery within the same period. 106 children were referred to other hospitals for further treatment.

Child mortality in Tharparkar are believed to be the result of malnutrition, early marriages, poor nutrition of mothers and infectious infections.

Sources said the Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Mithi and District Health Officer were reluctant to share full information about the dangerous condition and kept passing the buck on each other.

The circumstance underscores the grave healthcare and hunger crisis among children in Tharparkar.