Typical case of negligence, injustice
Disturbing news of deaths of seven infants at the Sargodha Government Teaching Hospital is another typical example of the ineffectiveness of government machinery. The usual excuses, that there weren’t enough incubators, and the children were already gravely ill when they arrived, should not be accepted at face value. The chief minister’s call for a report from secretary health, too, is already raising eyebrows. The CM’s office lacks the credibility to see such issues through, and there is hardly any instance of such reports leading to delivery of justice.
Whatever investigation takes place must first inquire why there were no senior doctors present at the hospital. According to news reports, parents of the suffering children kept asking for senior doctors, yet none were present; but there were four Sargodha Medical College students at the scene, who could not provide appropriate and timely relief. The relevant medical superintendent’s statement, that the infants were provided proper medical care, again reeks of the typical government reaction that is employed to hide such official incompetence. Clearly the government machinery is decayed and worse, there is still no appetite at the top for a meaningful overhaul.
The chief minister has a habit of initiating inquiries for the slightest offence. Yet he is not too fond of following these procedures through. And judging from evidence, neither are his favourite bureaucrats, whom he puts in charge of such matters. Hopefully this time will be different. There can be no excuse for letting infants die. And the most serious action must be taken if a proper, honest investigation reveals negligence and incompetence as the main cause. People have not forgotten Tharparkar, not the least because that particular tragedy continues. But what has angered them more is the Sindh government’s attitude. Qaim Ali Shah has few admirers beyond his ‘advisers’ after his justification for infant deaths in Thar. Shahbaz Sharif, on the other hand, understands the politics of posturing – with all his khadim e aala theatrics – so he is probably more aware of how people feel about children being left to die.
