480 Newborns Die Within 8 Months at Hospital in Sindh

In the first eight months of 2026, 480 newborns tragically passed away in the ICU of Civil Hospital Mithi, according to sources within the facility. Out of the 2,273 newborns admitted to the ICU during this period, a total of 480 did not survive treatment. Of those admitted, 1,387 managed to recover and were discharged, while 106 were transferred to other hospitals.

Additionally, 126 children were taken away by their parents despite medical advice. The peak month for newborn admissions was May, with 365 babies being brought to the ICU. Among the identified causes of these deaths, malnutrition, low birth weight, and various illnesses have been highlighted as the primary factors. Malnutrition and early-age marriages are contributing to the issue of low birth weight and poor nutrition among children in the Tharparkar region.

These concerning figures have surfaced amid broader worries about child health in Sindh. Separately, in Karachi, over 100 children tested positive for HIV after receiving treatment at the government-run Kulsum Bai Valika Social Security SITE Hospital. Nine infected children from Zia Colony sadly passed away, while 107 others from Orangi Town were affected.

Families of the infected children alleged that contaminated syringes were reused, leading to the spread of the virus. Federal Health Minister Syed Mustafa Kamal had previously suggested that the outbreak was connected to the reuse of contaminated syringes at Valika Hospital. Efforts were made to reach the administration of Civil Hospital Mithi for additional information regarding the newborn deaths and related health concerns, but no further details were forthcoming.