30 newborn babies died in Baghlan in a month

PUL-E-KHUMRI (SW) – The alleged negligence of the health services providers in Baghlan province has led to the death of scores of newborns.

A number of Baghlan residents told Salam Watandar the doctors and other health officials in the province are not performing their jobs with dignity and professionalism here, which has left severe impacts on the newborns. Two such residents, Abdul Basir and Samim, said a doctors at a private clinic told them their newborns died because proper procedural care was not provided at the time of brith.

Ghulam Rasul Qane, a local child rights activist, said in this regard that the death rate among the newborns is on the rise because of the negligence of the public sector doctors. He noted there was a significant rise in fatalities of the newborns.

Dr. Mohammad Anwar Wardag, head of the public hospital in Baghlan, acknowledged that the staff is not treating the patients well. He, however, blamed the patients for consulting the doctors too late that has caused most of the deaths among the newborns. He added at least 30 newborn babies died here because of the negligence of their families.

The head of public hospital in Baghlan also lamented the fact there are not enough resources and expertise to provide timely health services to the population. He said the maternity section here only has 30 beds, and currently more than 90 newborn children are hospitalized here.

ENDS