Certain viral infections and an acute malnutrition claimed lives of four children on Thursday in Tharparkar district of Sindh province, increasing the death toll to 397 in 2018, according to the Mithi Civil Hospital sources. Reportedly, in the month of January, 54 infants died below the age of five due to various health issues. Meanwhile, parents of sick children who were admitted in the Mithi Civil Hospital accused doctors and paramedics of sheer negligence and incompetence while performing their duties, and apprised the issue of lack of medicines. Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) newly-elected MPA Qasim Siraj Soomro said that the district would soon be declared as ‘a calamity-hit area’. According to the data acquired from local health functionaries, Tharparkar has 183 dispensaries, six Rural Health Clinics (RHC), nine Basic Health Units (BHU) and two maternity homes which have staff, but do not receive sufficient funds for purchasing medicines. Every dispensary needs Rs40,000, a BHU requires Rs100,000, a maternity home needs Rs200,000 and a RHC requires Rs300,000 on monthly basis for providing basic healthcare facilities to the patients. Sources further stated that the lack of budget has put pressure on the Mithi Civil Hospital. Published in Daily Times, August 17th 2018.