LOWER DIR: To provide timely diagnosis and treatment for newborns including premature and low-birth-weight babies, aiming to reduce infant mortality in the district, a modern neonatal nursery was inaugurated in Timergara on December 23.
The facility established under the supervision of district children’s specialist Dr Qiyamud Din Kashaf is equipped with state-of-the-art medical devices. The nursery has 15 beds along with a Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) machine to assist infants suffering from severe respiratory distress.
The opening ceremony was attended by chief surgeon Dr Bakht Sarwar, Dr Alaudin, Jamaat-i-Islami divisional deputy general secretary Atiqur Rehman, Young Doctors Association president Dr Najeebullah, Al-Khidmat Hospital director Majeedullah, and Dr Qiyamud Din Kashaf.
Speakers termed the first month after birth as the most critical period for newborns, with a significant proportion of infant deaths occurring during this time. According to Unicef, Pakistan’s neonatal mortality rate stands at around 39 deaths per 1,000 live births and the WHO estimates that approximately 246,300 newborns and 9,800 mothers die each year in Pakistan from preventable complications, translating to roughly 675 newborns and 27 mothers losing their lives daily.
The experts emphasised that the establishment of modern neonatal nurseries was essential, given limited resources at public hospitals. They noted that the new facility will not only ease the burden on the DHQ hospital but also provide parents with timely, high-quality medical care.
Published in Dawn, December 25th, 2025.
