A total of 480 newborn babies have died at Civil Hospital Mithi during the first eight months of the current year, with malnutrition, low birth weight and various illnesses among the reported causes.
According to hospital records, 2,732 children were admitted to the hospital between January and August. The highest number of deaths was recorded in June, when 75 children died, followed by January with 70 and July with 69.
The monthly death toll stood at 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 show that 1,387 children were discharged after recovering during the same period, while 106 were referred to other hospitals for further treatment.Malnutrition, early marriages, inadequate nutrition among mothers and infectious diseases are considered major factors contributing to child mortality in Tharparkar.
Sources said the Medical Superintendent of Civil Hospital Mithi and the District Health Officer did not provide complete information about the situation and continued to shift responsibility onto each other.
The high number of newborn deaths has raised serious concerns over healthcare facilities, maternal nutrition and the broader malnutrition crisis affecting children in Tharparkar.
