Since the beginning of the year, 354 babies have died in Samarkand region of Uzbekistan
During the eight months of this year, 354 babies under the age of one year and 13 parturient women died in Samarkand region. The reason is corruption, the lack of medicines and equipment, the criminal negligence of medical staff. This was reported by the press service of the Regional administration. The total inspection of maternity hospitals began since tragic events from February 28 to March 1, when the deaths of five newborns were recorded.
Samarkand region “distinguished itself” in cases of substitution of children, illegal abortions and trafficking of babies. The working group of the Regional administration with unprecedented openness for Uzbekistan published the facts of the neglected state of the entire health care system. For example, in Akdarya district, it turned out that five children died as a result of late indications for a cesarean operation during nine months. The only breathing apparatus for premature babies does not work due to the lack of a centralized supply of oxygen.
In Urgut region, operations are performed without preliminary examination of pregnant women for HIV and viral hepatitis; sanitary and hygienic standards have been violated. From September 21 to October 2, dirty bedsheets were taken to the laundry only once.
Inspections in three city maternity hospitals in Samarkand revealed that “some equipment is morally outdated and in worse condition than in the districts”. There is a problem of overcrowding in maternity hospitals, where instead of the prescribed 150 there are 190 parturient women.
In one of the private clinics in Samarkand, illegal abortions and trafficking of babies were practiced; pregnancy was terminated in the later stages. The surviving child was sold to those who wanted. If there were no buyers, then the bodies were burned in the incinerator of the municipal hospital №2. As a result, the head of the clinic received 13 years and two months in prison, her partners in crime were also sentenced to prison terms.
This is a known case of criminal punishment. There are 210 perinatal institutions in Uzbekistan. According to official statistics, over 30 heads of clinics were fired. After the results of the work of the group, 270 medical persons received various administrative penalties. It is unknown what kind of punishments the officials of the Ministry of Health suffered, having a complete picture of corruption processes.
“We have become hostages of inept public health policy. The professionalism of doctors has fallen over the years of independence. The generation that came to medicine considers patients as a source of enrichment. People forgot about medical ethics,” 40-years experienced doctor told ACCA.
Experts from the international non-governmental non-profit organization “Buyuk Kelajak” [“Great future”] note that today, Uzbekistan occupies 146th place of infant mortality rate, being on the list next to Haiti and Papua New Guinea. Also it was on the list of leaders in mortality rate from cardiovascular diseases associated with poor nutrition – 394 people per 100 000.
The main causes of death are diseases of the blood circulation and respiratory system. An expert assessment of the Health System Development Concept for 2019-2025 in the Republic of Uzbekistan emphasizes the declarative intentions of the government to improve the health situation in the country.
