The president of Senegal has confirmed that eleven newborn babies died in a hospital fire in the western city of Tivaouane on Thursday, 26th May, 2022.

President Macky Sall tweeted that the fire at Mame Abdou Aziz Sy Dabakh Hospital occurred in the maternity ward.

According to Senegalese politicians, initial findings indicate that the fire was sparked by a short circuit.

Three babies were saved from the fire, said the city’s mayor, Demba Diop Sy.

Mr. Sy informed local media that the fire spread swiftly and that emergency personnel was still on the site.

According to AFP, which cited local media accounts, the facility had just been opened.

President Sall tweeted, “To their moms and families, I extend my heartfelt sadness.”

From Geneva, where he was attending a World Health Organization meeting, Health Minister Abdoulaye Diouf Sarr stated, “This scenario is incredibly regrettable and extremely painful.”

He stated that an investigation was underway and that he would cut his vacation short in order to return to Senegal as soon as possible.

The incident has caused widespread outrage on social media about the status of healthcare in the country.

Mamadou Lamine Diallo, a member of the opposition, slammed the government on Twitter, writing: “In a public hospital, more babies were torched… This is intolerable “.

Last year, four newborn babies were murdered in a fire at a hospital’s maternity department in the northern town of Linguère. The mayor claimed at the time that the maternity ward’s air conditioning equipment had an electrical problem.

The tragedy comes after a public outcry over the murder of Astou Sokhna, a lady in labour who died while apparently begging for a Caesarean section during her 20-hour labour. Her unborn child perished as well.

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