Islamabad: A Chinese company has awarded Rs 1 million to nurse Razia Noreen for her bravery in saving a baby during a fatal fire at the nursery of Islamabad’s Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMS).
The nurse was presented with a cheque for Rs 1 million by Yan Jin, chairperson of the Chinese company, in recognition of her courageous efforts and humanitarian commitment during the incident.
Paying tribute to Noreen, Yan Jin stated that saving one life was equivalent to saving all of humanity, praising the nurse for demonstrating courage and dedication during an extremely difficult and dangerous situation.
The recognition comes following a fire at the PIMS nursery that claimed the lives of 14 newborn babies. The incident sparked public grief and anger, raising serious questions regarding fire safety measures and emergency arrangements at the hospital.
The tragedy also prompted widespread concern over whether adequate protocols were in place to protect vulnerable infants during emergencies. The mother of one of the deceased babies previously expressed her anguish over the incident, noting that no doctors were harmed while the newborns suffered.
A report subsequently submitted by the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Fire Department evaluated 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.
Furthermore, the CDA report pointed out that emergency exit routes were permanently blocked from the outside, raising major concerns regarding the hospital’s ability to evacuate patients and staff quickly in an emergency.
Against this backdrop, the bravery of nurse Razia Noreen drew particular attention, highlighting the critical role played by healthcare workers in protecting patients during emergencies, especially in neonatal and maternity facilities where newborns require immediate assistance.
The gesture by the Chinese company reflects the importance of acknowledging healthcare staff who risk their safety to protect others during life-threatening events. Meanwhile, the CDA findings have added to calls for improved emergency exits, fire prevention systems, and evacuation procedures across healthcare facilities.
