The Family Planning Association has revealed some shocking statistics. According to their statistics, about 225,450 infants die every year, which means about 618 newborns die every day. The infant mortality rate for 2012-13 is 75% per 1000 children. What do we blame these deaths upon? According to a doctor at DHQ, about 4 babies die at that hospital due to lack of facilities. The ward does not have the capability to provide oxygen to babies simultaneously. Sometimes the situation is so dire that the nurse has to take oxygen of from one baby to give to another. Lack of medical staff is also a contributing factor. The government’s negligence towards the health sector has played a major part in the infant mortality rate.
Many women from far away area come to the DHQ hospital at Sargodha in serious conditions. Some have already delivered their babies through the local midwife and have brought their babies for medical attention. Many newborns are brought in with anemia and birth asphyxiation that may lead to disabilities or death. According to Dr Warraich, who is a doctor at DHQ, the government has spent millions of rupees on the new DHQ hospital, but has still failed to make it functional in the absence of an appropriate system. There are no oxygen supply lines in the old building and there is a lack of staff and machinery as well.
According to WHO, the mother is supposed to receive antenatal care at least four times as it gives a pregnant woman a chance to improve her own health and that of their babies. But unfortunately, most women are not receiving it once. Dr Warraich informed that WHO has indicated that at least 3 nurses should be present in the ward with the babies, but the government is not hiring, while they haven’t sent any incubators either. The information officer of the Punjab Health Department stated that the health department should take notice of this issue and should take steps in making the facilities functional. Some of the private hospitals also lack the facilities and send their patients to the state hospitals.