News Desk
ISLAMABAD: UNICEF has issued a statement mourning the deaths of at least 14 newborn babies killed in a fire that swept through a ward at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad on Wednesday.
The blaze broke out before dawn in the nursery of the Mother and Child Health ward, on the third floor of the hospital’s maternity building. Officials said the fire was triggered by a fault in an air-conditioning unit. Of roughly 15 infants in the ward at the time, only one was reported to have survived, reportedly saved by a doctor who managed to reach the child before the fire spread.
In a statement attributable to Pernille Ironside, UNICEF Representative in Pakistan, the organization said:
“UNICEF is deeply saddened by the tragic loss of at least 14 newborn lives following a fire at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS) hospital in Islamabad today.
“We extend our deepest condolences to the bereaved families and all those affected by this devastating incident.
“Every newborn deserves a safe start to life, and every mother and child should be able to receive care in a safe, secure health facility.
“UNICEF calls for the urgent review and strengthening of fire prevention and safety standards across health facilities, to ensure that every mother and child can receive the care they need in a safe environment.”
