THARPARKAR: The death toll of children in Sindh’s Tharparkar region continues to climb as two more passed away due to malnutrition on Thursday.
According to the Sindh Health Department, the deaths took place at Civil Hospital Mithhi where two minor children were brought during the month of November, bringing the total number of deaths this month to 53.
These deaths have taken the death toll in Tharparkar since January 1, 2018, to 564.
According to the health department, around 1,500 children die due to malnutrition, infections and lack of proper medical facilities in the remote region every year.
A report released by the United Nation’s Children Fund (UNCF) in April stated that Pakistan is among the countries with the highest infant mortality rates, with 22 infants dying before turning one month old.
Among these countries, eight are in Africa and two in Asia, including Afghanistan which is ranked at number three.
“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 and Singapore.”
