Daily Times

MITHI: An upgraded infant child health care unit has been handed over to District Headquarters Hospital, Mithi, would provide better facilities to locals, authorities claimed on Tuesday. According to reports, renovated ‘Sick New Born Care Unit’ was handed over to hospital authorities last week with better medical facilities. The renovation was completed under Sindh Maternal, Neonatal and Child Health (MNCH) Programme. The scarcity of food and water; and lack of access to basic health care facilities have an adverse effect on mothers and new born children resulting in the deaths of infants. According to Civil Surgeon Civil Hospital Mithi, Dr Muhammad Iqbal Bhurgri, there had been 230 deaths of children in Civil Hospital Mithi, whereas 7,000 were admitted. On the other hand, 18,000 were treated in Outdoor Patient Department. As per media reports, the deaths were much more than official figures. While welcoming the up-gradation facilities, Dr Bhurgri said the facilities would provide better hospitalisation. While talking to Daily Times he said, “The unit has been modernised and centralised. It is good to see all related units working under one roof now.” He said unit has capacity to hospitalise 60 cases. The sections functional in the unit include Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and general pediatric ward, whereas apart from it, Nutrition Stabilisation Centre has also been improved. “Pediatric Ward has also new machinery including incubators; Oxygen Supply Systems suppliers have also been included,” said Dr Sikander Hajiano, in-charge of the unit. According to Dr Sikander Hajiano, 20 cases on average come in hospital on daily basis among which mostly are related to new-born. “Normally, the cases are related to food related issues and water contamination,” he added.