Senegal President Macky Sall announced on his Twitter that 11 newborn babies have died in a hospital fire in Tivaouanne, Western Senegal.
The unfortunate incident happened at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh hospital and was caused by "a short circuit." The fire then spread very quickly. The city mayor, Demba Diop, said that three babies were saved. The health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, who is currently in Geneva attending a meeting with the World Health Organization (WHO), said he would return to Senegal immediately, adding that the situation is "very unfortunate and extremely painful."
The President assured everyone that "an investigation is underway to see what happened."
Series of maternity-related incidents
As per Aljazeera, the local media reports that the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital was newly inaugurated.
The fire is among the several incidents at the public health facilities in Senegal where there is a disparity between urban and rural healthcare services.
In April, a fire broke out at a hospital in Linguère, killing four newborn babies. The town's mayor said that it was due to an electrical malfunction in an air conditioning unit in the maternity ward.
Three weeks ago, three midwives were convicted over the death of Astou Sokhna, who was refused a caesarian section. The pregnant mom came to the hospital in pain, and the staff refused to accommodate the expectant mom's request for a c-section, saying that it had not been scheduled. She died on April 1, 20 hours after she arrived, The Guardian reported. The baby also died. The health minister admitted that the health workers could have avoided the incident. The incident caused public outrage. The high court of Louga sentenced the three midwives on duty to a six-month suspended jail sentence for their failure to assist a person in danger.
After the death of the four babies, Seydi Gassama, Amnesty International's Senegal director, said that his organization called for an inspection and upgrade of neonatology services nationwide. He also urged the government to create an independent commission of inquiry to determine responsibility and punish the culprits.
Messages of sympathy
President Sall expressed his "profound compassion to the mother and the families." The President is currently on a state visit to Angola.
The health minister also said that they had put an emergency response in place, and assistance to the victim's families is being made, as per CNN.
Meanwhile, Senegalese Minister of Regional Planning and Local Government, Cheikh Bamba Dièye, said that the incident was "horrific and unacceptable" while urging a probe of the country's health systems. He also expressed his condolences to the bereaved families.
Opposition political Mamadou Lamine Diallo also expressed his outrage at the Tivaouane blaze that killed the babies. He added that more babies being killed at public hospitals is unacceptable.
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