Indus Vitals

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 offcia...

By Mukhtar Alam KARACHI: A staggering 70% of people surveyed in Tharparkar, Sindh, believe that mental illness is contagious, according to a research study conducted by the Sindh Mental Health Authority (SMHA). The study, which aimed to assess the knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) of mental health among Tharparkar residents, revealed alarming misconceptions and a lack of awareness about mental health issues. The research team, led by Dr Abduk Razzaque Nohri of the Sindh Health Department, presented their findings at a ceremony held at the PMA House in Karachi on December 11. The study involved 5,378 respondents from all seven talukas of Tharparkar and was conducted over a period of three months. Dr Mahesh Kumar Malani, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the National Health Services Regulation and Coordination committee, Islamabad, presided over the event, with Vice Chancellor of Dow University of Health Sciences (DUHS) Prof Dr Mohammad Saeed Qureshy as chief g...