11 newborns die in Senegal hospital fire
Eleven newborn babies have died as a result of a fire outbreak in the neonatal section of a Senegalese hospital.
On Wednesday, President Macky Sall announced the death toll after a fire at a regional hospital in the town of Tivaouane, around the capital Dakar.
“I have just learned with pain and consternation the death of 11 newborn babies in the fire that occurred in the neonatology department of the Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh hospital in Tivaouane,” Mr Sall said in a tweet. “To their mothers and their families, I express my deepest sympathy.”
Senegal’s health minister, Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr, disclosed to Senegalese television TFM that a short circuit triggered the fire.
Mr Sarr, currently in Geneva for the World Health Assembly, indicated that his trip would be cut short and he would return to Senegal immediately.
Mr Sall has declared a three-day period of national mourning from Thursday and asked that flags fly at half mast during this period. He has also launched an investigation to find out the cause of the fire, according to the country’s interior minister Antoine Felix Abdoulaye Diome.
“Beyond that, he (Sall) asked that we review all the equipment and infrastructure dedicated to newborns who need assistance with machines for their care,” Mr Diome said.
We have recently deactivated our website's comment provider in favour of other channels of distribution and commentary. We encourage you to join the conversation on our stories via our Facebook, Twitter and other social media pages.
More from Peoples Gazette
Agriculture
FG tasks ECOWAS on leveraging financing strategies for agroecology
The federal government has urged stakeholders in the agriculture and finance sectors in the West Africa region to leverage financing strategies to enhance agroecology practices
Politics
Katsina youths pledge to deliver over 2 million votes to Atiku
“Katsina State is Atiku’s political base because it is his second home.”
States
Olubadan lauds Tinubu on release of Oriire kidnap victims, urges rehabilitation
“As a follow-up to this development, the government must ensure that all communities bordering the National Park are fully secure,” he said.
Heading 1
Iran’s new supreme leader vows revenge over father’s assassination by U.S.-Israeli forces
“We pledge to avenge the blood of the martyred leader and all the martyrs of these two wars from the criminal and disgraced killers,” he said.
Heading 4
Trump administration subpoenas New York Times journalists over Air Force One story
The subpoenas seek to compel the reporters to testify before a federal grand jury in Manhattan.
Heading 2
Klopp agrees to replace Nagelsmann as Germany coach
Nagelsmann resigned last week as the men’s national team coach following Germany’s shocking exit from the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Health
FG expands cancer funding, local drug production
“We are trying to domesticate expensive treatments by producing much-needed medicines locally and translating global research into action in our clinics,” he said.
Heading 3
Remi Tinubu begs Asake, Davido, Burna Boy to come rescue poor Nigerians from hunger
The first lady stated that buying exotic cars is good, but noted that the singers can still establish foundations to assist the struggling population.
