LARKANA: September 29, 2012. (Nazir Siyal) Ten newborn babies died in Children CMC Hospital Larkana within 24 hours, is a normal mortality rate claimed Professors and Doctors, while overcrowding is also a major threat to increase in the mortality rate told in press conference held by Deputy Commissioner Larkana. Deputy Commission Asadullah Bhutto convened an emergency meeting of concerned staff including Medical Suprintinendent CMC hospital Larkana Dr. Afsar Bhutto. DC Larkana Assadullah constituted a five members Committee and directed to probe about the deaths and complete report about future strategy and several other issues in the children hospital. Medical Suprintendent (MS) Dr. Afsar Bhutto, CMC Paeds head of department Professors among Saifullah Jamro, Prof. Khurshed Ahmed Abbasi and Anwer Ali Shaikh denied any negligence of paramedical staff of CMC Children Hospital Larkana, but within 24 hours newborn (neonate) survival is 10 percent universally and we are facing shortage of space, which is about 40-50 bedded children hospital since, while only today’s admissions of children are more than 52 according to the record of hospital, so that media should project it positively and the staff and Doctors are very much active about the children health and they are performing diligently. To a question about a heavy corruption and early purchase of 400 million modern equipment’s for the new Children Health Institute along with CMC Children hospital which is still in doldrums, DC Larkana and other authorities replied that they will also furnish complete report by the committee within three days and all the issues will be disclosed and proper strategy will be issued on the occasion. DC Larkana said Sindh Governor Dr Ishratul Ebad Khan and Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah have also ordered for the said report and complete probe in this regard. On the occasion, district administration alogn with WAPDA officials, TMA, NSUSC and ASP Larkana was present during the press confrerence. Meanwhile, Professors Saifullah Jamro, Khurshed Ahmed Abbasi, Anwer Ali Shaikh in a press conference also disclosed that presently, we have only 140 beds in all wards of children hospital units and despite of completion of 180 Institute of Child Healthcare with a cost of Rs. Rs137.075 million, adjacent building is yet to be a functional due to restoration of electricity, all staff recruitment and millions of installation of all equipment including six ventilators, two gas analyses, 20 sucking machines, 20 incubators, 15 trollies mounted with resuscitation machines, an X-ray unit, an ultrasound unit and an ECG machine, yet unknown and where about of these equipment bought for the institute in June 2011 is still lying idle. Sources disclosed that the furniture, beds, foams, mattresses for the institute were first kept at the trauma center and had now been moved to the Institute of Nursing near Shaikh Zaid Hospital for Women and dumped in two rooms, while the guarantee/warranty void. According to the Paeds professors, they disclosed that the warranty now void due to the years before purchase while, hospital work still in doldrums. Prof Jamro is worried about the long disuse may lead to the faults in the sensitive equipment lying and dumped. He said we are not sure whether or not the instruments and equipment bought in July 2011 will properly work. The professors on the occasion, stressed that there is need to reduce the mortality rate of children and reducing the overcrowding of child patients, immediately the new 180 bedded building started at once by recruitment of all staff and installation of equipment purchased billions of rupees are still dumped he said. Professor said the management of the Chandka Medical College Hospital is not serious to about the adjacent building as Institute is yet to be commissioned. The institute was approved by the Provincial Development Working Party in 2008-09 at a cost of Rs137.075 million, while the construction started in 2008-09 and was scheduled to complete in 2010-11. It was delayed because of financial constraints, the hospital management and professors concerned are weighing the idea to start the institute sooner than later to reduce patients’ load and minimize death ratio at the Children Hospital. All the millions of equipment bought for the institute in June 2011 is lying idle at the central store of CMCH. According to PC-I of the project, the institute would require Rs58.634 million as annual recurring expenditure sources told.