As many as 1,757 newborns died in three units of Paeds Medicine Department (PMD) of the Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH), Larkana, during 2018 against admission of 25,702 out of which 18,421 children were discharged, 1,633 were referred to other hospitals and 2,146 Left Against Medical Advice (LAMA) during the same 12 months. This was revealed in the statistical data obtained by this Scribe. In this way, approximately 147 kids expired monthly in all three units of the PMD which according to the PMD Deputy Medical Superintendent (DMS) is below the prescribed death ratio of World Health Organization (WHO). In January, 125 under 5-year children died, in February 131, in March 110, 88 in April, 179 in May, 145 in June, 137 in July, 246 in August, 122 in September, 135 in October, 162 in November and 177 in December 2018.
The DMS said that according to WHO criteria, average 85 under 5-year kids may loose their lives per 1000 children. He said there is no difference between the kids of Tharparkar and Larkana adding every health facility in Thar has got an ambulance to shift the relevant patient/s free of cost to any suitable hospital even to Hyderabad. He said latest medical equipment and instruments have been supplied to Thar hospitals whereas we have machinery of 2003 model. He said modern ventilators and incubators have been supplied to Thar Hospitals but our six ventilators procured in 2003 are still dysfunctional and lying idle because there are no trained operators to run them. Each unit should have latest digital X-Ray machine but outdated machine is working which need to be replaced forthwith.