Despite the allocation of billions of rupees, government hospitals in interior Sindh lack proper facilities for children’s treatment, forcing poor citizens to sell their livestock to afford medical care for their children.
Imtiaz Gashkori, a resident of Kunri in Umerkot district, said that recently his 10 month old son, Ghulam Muhammad, became critically ill due to severe malnutrition and the measles virus. “We had no money for treatment, but to save my son’s life, I sold a goat and got him treated by doctors in Mithi and Kunri. However, his condition worsened further,” he said.
He added that he later took his son from Umerkot to a private hospital in Mirpurkhas city. During this time, he sent a request to Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah for his son’s treatment. On the Chief Minister’s instructions, Commissioner Mirpurkhas Faisal Ahmed Aqili and the Civil Surgeon of the Sindh Health Department, Dr. Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani, were directed to ensure immediate treatment for his son Ghulam Muhammad in Kunri, Umerkot district.
According to him, under the instructions of Commissioner Faisal Ahmed Aqili, Civil Surgeon Dr. Pir Ghulam Nabi Jilani visited the private hospital, met him and the doctors, and received a briefing on the child’s treatment from Dr. Abdul Majeed Memon. The treatment was then carried out under the supervision of Dr. Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah.
The child’s father said that due to the timely action and supervision of Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, Commissioner Mirpurkhas, and Civil Surgeon Dr. Pir Ghulam Nabi Shah Jilani, his son has now recovered.
He appealed for the immediate appointment of pediatric specialists in Kunri, Umerkot, and other rural areas, stating that children in these regions are suffering from severe malnutrition.
Speaking on the matter, Civil Surgeon Dr. Pir Ghulam Nabi said that the child was suffering from severe measles and its complications because poverty had also caused malnutrition. Due to multiple factors, measles-related complications developed, and treatment for malnutrition was initiated at the Nutrition Center (OTP) of the Taluka Hospital Kunri on his instructions.
Dr. Ghulam Nabi stated that with the onset of cold weather, malnourished children are more likely to be affected by the measles virus. He urged parents to ensure that their children receive all necessary vaccinations to protect them from measles and other diseases.
He further added that in cold weather, medical problems like pneumonia and measles become common among children. “Mothers should take special care of their children’s diet and ensure timely vaccinations, as malnutrition can lead to various health complications in young children,” he said.
