Four children died in incubators of the state-run National Institute of Child Health (NICH) as prolonged suspension of power supply caused shortage of oxygen. Sources said that the power suspension led to cut in oxygen supply to the incubators which caused the deaths of at least four infants. They said the condition of some other infants was also critical.
They said that power supply to the health facility remained suspended for the last six hours. They added that even the emergency ward of the hospital was without power for the last six hours. The negligence of the hospital administration was evident from the fact that despite power suspension for so long time, it did not arrange any alternative power supply. NICH Director Jamal Raza has said that only a section of the hospital lost its power supply and that it has nothing to do with the NICH nursery. He further said that immensely sick infants do die. However, Sindh Minister for Health Dr Sagheer Ahmed has taken notice of babies' death in the NICH. On the other hand, K-Electric spokesman said that the PMT, from where the hospital is being supplied electricity, has been exempted from load-shedding.