The air conditioning system of the nursery of National Institute of Child Health (NICH) has developed faults for a couple of weeks and resultantly mortality rate of babies admitted in this critical unit is on the rise. Sources said there are more than 20 air conditioners in the nursery; however, they are not working for last two weeks causing high temperature inside the nursery.
Due to high temperature and spread of infections three to six babies are dying daily. Sadly, the air conditioners in the offices of administration bosses are fully functional and running. Nursery of NICH, the biggest childcare hospital of the city, is at the sixth floor of the hospital. It houses forty incubators and four ventilators.
There are more than 20 air conditioners fitted in the unit to control its temperature and stop spread of infections. They said some of the air conditioners went out of order and some units were stolen. Sources informed the facility is running without air conditioning facility and its windows are opened which bring dust and infections inside this highly critical unit. As a result of this condition 3 to 6 children are dying every day due to different infections and extreme heat, creating panic among the parents of the infants.
Some parents told that their ailing babies had to brave high temperature. They said after non-working of air conditioners doctors and nurses generally avoid sitting in the hot nursery and prefer passing their time in nearby cool wards and offices.
They added that when they protest over absence of doctors and nurses they are asked to take their babies to some private hospital. Professor Jamal Raza, Executive Director of the hospital, when contacted, he was not available on phone. It was observed that air conditioners in offices of Executive Director, Deputy Director, senior doctors and different NGOs were fully functional.
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