Head physician of Sughd regional maternity hospital in the northern city of Khujand has been replaced after the death of sextuplets.

Ms. Munira Valiyeva, who had served in this maternity hospital as deputy head physician for eight years, has been appointed head physician, replacing Ms. Nouri Dadoboyeva, who was retired forage reasons.

Recall, the first ever sextuplet birth was reported in Tajikistan on January11, 2023.  The 26-year-old mother gave birth to two boys and four girls at the Khujand maternity hospital only six months into her pregnancy.   

The weight of each baby was 600-700 grams and after birth, their health condition was considered normal.  Unfortunately, the sextuplets died a day after birth.

“The leading causes of death were preterm birth and low birth weight,” head physician of the Khujand maternity hospital, Ms. Nouri Dadoboyeva, told Asia-Plus in an interview on January 12.

However, Zaliyakhon Rahimova, the grandma of the deceased sextuplets, told Asia-Plus in an interview on January 15 that her daughter "did not receive medical assistance in time after she was taken to the regional maternity hospital.”  

According to her, midwife and nurses approached the woman in labor only after her mother-in-law raised a fuss and demanded help from doctors.  

“Only after 1.5 hours of waiting, the pregnant woman was admitted to the emergency department. Of course, this affected her health,” Ms. Rahimova said.    

“The hospital has all conditions, but health workers were negligent,” she said, adding that they added that they intend to file a complaint with the prosecutor's office after discharge of the mother.  

Meanwhile, the Ministry of health and Social Protection of the Population (MoHSPP) says all measures have been taken to save the newborn lives.

An official source at a MoHSPP told Asia-Plus on January 16 that the 26-year-old Muborakkhon Sohibova was taken to the maternity hospital by ambulance.  “She was examined and hospitalized urgently,” the source said. 

Meanwhile, the pre-investigation check on the fact of death of the newborns apparently was not conducted.  

A senior aide to Sughd chief prosecutor for legal support and work with the press, Pairav Mirinoyat, told Asia-Plus that he does not know if there have been complaints about the death sextuplets and “whether this incident will be investigated or not.”