THARPARKAR: The toll of children dying of malnutrition in Sindh’s Tharparker region continues to rise, as four more children passed away, taking the death toll to 13 for this month and 432 for this year.
According to the health department, 1,500 children die of malnutrition, infections and lack of proper medical facilities, every year in the remote region.
A report released by the United Nation’s Children Fund in April revealed that Pakistan is among countries with the highest infant mortality rates. Among the countries, eight are in Africa and two in Asia, including Afghanistan which is ranked third.
“Pakistan is the riskiest place to be born as measured by its newborn mortality rate,” the report stated. “A baby born in Pakistan is almost 50 times more likely to die during his or her first month than a baby born in Japan, Iceland or Singapore.”