Mithi Civil Hospital NICU records 8.9% mortality rate this year

315 newborn deaths out of 3,535 admissions, hospital serves as referral hub for 3 districts

IV Report

MITHI: Civil Hospital Mithi’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit recorded a mortality rate of 8.9% in 2026 so far, with 315 newborn deaths recorded through August.

The facility averaged 39 fatalities per month during the eight-month period.

Official hospital data shows that out of 3,535 total admissions, 2,819 infants or 79.7% recovered and were successfully discharged home. Another 328 cases or 9.3% were referred to better-equipped tertiary centers for advanced treatment. Seventy-three cases or 2.1% were recorded as Left Against Medical Advice.

Case breakdown: Of the 315 recorded deaths, 250 were residents of Tharparkar district. The remaining 65 fatalities involved high-risk newborns referred from neighboring districts including Mirpurkhas, Badin and Umerkot. Hospital records state these infants arrived in extremely fragile condition with severe complications, according to offcial data.

Officials said the hospital is functioning as a first point of care for high-risk deliveries not only in Tharparkar but also in adjoining districts that lack dedicated NICU facilities.

Expert view: Child health observers note that an 8.9% mortality rate in a public district NICU reflects both local burden and regional referral pressure. They add that transport delays and late referrals often impact outcomes for critically ill newborns in desert and border areas, making early access to specialised care a key factor in survival rates.

 

With an uninterrupted 23-year career in daily journalism (1991-2013), the author/editor of this blog currently serves as Editor of Social Track, a weekly newspaper focused on social sectors, based in Karachi. Holding a master's degree in Mass Communications from the University of Karachi (1990), his professional experience includes roles as senior reporter at Daily Dawn, Karachi (May 2001-August 2013) and Chief Reporter at The News International, Karachi (April 1991-May 2001). He has a strong background in development journalism, he has an extensive portfolio of news stories, analytical reports and features covering a wide range of sectors. He has had the privilege of covering numerous high-profile figures, including Pakistani presidents, prime ministers, army chiefs, foreign dignitaries, and VVIPs and attending conferences and workshops abroad. He began his journalism career in the early 1980s. Throughout his career, he has received several national awards from government and private organisations. He has contributed to various radio and TV/channel broadcasts and has also served as a trainer at workshops in Karachi, Lahore, and Islamabad, focused on training journalists.

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