A desert-like district in southern Pakistan has stumbled upon ruthless drought-like condition for last three years. A nursery was holding underweight babies in the main hospital with only 13 incubators in Mithi city, Tharparkar.
According to Voice of America, an 800-gram baby was listed as "Girl D/O Mahmood" and is struggling from lack of air while the doctors are trying to clean her windpipe. The baby was kept in a small nursery with dubious hygiene condition.
People who live at Tharparkar are mostly relying on livestock they keep. Since it was a desert-like region, there is no rain to water the grass or crops, and also no water to drink. Some animals and crops are dying due to dehydration.
Vegetables with bread are the only food the villagers can eat. But sometimes they are forced to eat bread with crushed peppers for the whole day.
Numbers of malnutrition among pregnant mothers result in growing number of deaths to infants. Some are still surviving by eating livestock.
Sonumal Khangarani, a development professional who worked with NGOs for the last 30 years said, "If I had two kilos of milk at home, ten years ago I would have used it. Now I sell it to get instant cash." He also said that he would blame the social changes.
Dr Sikandar Raza, a medical expert in the region said, "Above all, the ill-equipped and poorly staffed health facilities at our disposal don't leave us in a good position to cope with the situation," after curing another batch of malnourished children. "We have limited beds at the hospital, only seven. How can we cater to the needs of the patients coming from the whole district?" he added.
In other news, Pakistan's National Commission for Human Rights requested an update from Sindh Government and soon will send in a team to take charge in the region, according to ABC News.
Medical experts observed the region and commented that lack of sterilized water; food and low hygiene are the cause of the drought and malnutrition in the region. Due to lack of sterilized water, water borne disease such as dysentery, cholera, and diarrhea are also spreading to the district.
