Chinese company rewards PIMS nurse Rs 1 million for saving baby during fire

A Chinese company has awarded Rs 1 million to nurse Razia Noreen for her bravery in saving a baby during a fire at the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

ISLAMABAD: A Chinese company has awarded Rs 1 million to nurse Razia Noreen for her bravery in saving a baby during a fire at the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).

The nurse was presented with a cheque for Rs1 million by the chairperson of the Chinese company, Yan Jin, in recognition of her courageous efforts during the incident.

Paying tribute to Razia Noreen Yan Jin said that saving one life was equivalent to saving all of humanity. She praised the nurse for demonstrating courage and dedication during an extremely difficult and dangerous situation.

The recognition comes following a devastating fire at PIMS that claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies.

The incident sparked grief and anger, with questions being raised about fire safety and emergency arrangements at the hospital. The tragedy also prompted concerns over whether adequate measures were in place to protect vulnerable newborns in the event of an emergency.

The mother of one of the babies who died had previously expressed her anguish over the tragedy. According to her, no doctors were harmed in the incident while the newborn babies were the ones who suffered.

The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department subsequently submitted a report regarding the fire safety arrangements at PIMS. The report stated that measures for fire prevention and the protection of human lives at the hospital were inadequate.

The CDA report also pointed out that emergency exit routes were permanently blocked from the outside, raising serious concerns about the hospital’s ability to evacuate patients and staff quickly during an emergency.

Against this backdrop, the bravery of nurse Razia Noreen has drawn particular attention. Her actions during the fire highlighted the critical role played by healthcare workers in protecting patients during emergencies particularly in neonatal and maternity facilities where newborns require immediate assistance.

The Rs1 million award was presented as a tribute to her courage and humanitarian commitment. The gesture also reflects the importance of recognizing healthcare workers who risk their own safety to protect others during life-threatening situations.

The PIMS fire remains a matter of concern because of the number of newborn deaths and the questions surrounding hospital fire safety arrangements. The CDA findings have added to calls for improved emergency exits fire prevention systems and evacuation procedures at healthcare facilities.

The award to Razia Noreen has meanwhile brought a positive note amid the tragedy highlighting an individual act of courage during one of the most distressing incidents at the hospital.