F.P. Report
LANDI KOTAL: Health center established at Bazaar Zakha Khel facing shortage of staff, equipment and medicines to facilitate war trodden tribesmen at bordering region of Khyber while health department claiming that the project did not finished by Construction and Works (C&W) and officially the hospital did not handed over to the department.
A Medical Officer serving at the facility Dr. Mushtaq told that seven health staff comprising four doctors, perform duties two days each, two medical technicians, a lady health worker and they deal approximately 500 OPD daily however no facility has been provided by the health department. We have been posted there without any facility and with support of forces we treat the patients and added that if a residential facility or to approve travelling allowance for them the health officials will execute their duties efficiently.
In the absence of instruments, they can tackle any emergency in the hospital, he argued. As per health department rules 04 specialists and 10 other doctors besides 09 nurses and 20 paramedical and class IV staff to be positioned in type (D) hospital. Maulana Abdullah said Bazaar Zakha Khel is the most ignored area and lacks necessary health facilities therefore construction of the hospital is an innovative act of the government.
Although, he added, delay in functioning of the hospital is equivalent to depriving them of the right of getting proper medical aid at their door steps. Scores of patients including women with delivery problems and bullet injuries usually expire on the way while shifting them to Medical Complex Hayatabad, Peshawar for treatment, he lamented.
Haji Barat, an elder said that the required building for the health center has been constructed but ironically, the health department has turned blinds towards their demand of deployment of required staff in it. He thanked the health crew of Frontier Corp (FC) who presently provide partial health facilities to the patients of Bazaar Zakha Khel and urged the health department to start gyny, dentals, surgery and other departments in the hospital.
Captain Dr. Inam said that they faced difficulties in the beginning of the hospital but soon with assistance and support of forces they overcame the hardships. First we have started the Open Door Department (OPD) and created initial awareness that was followed by a vaccination campaign,he added.
Separate blocks have been set up for men and women patients where the forces paramedical staff both male and female, provide curing facilities, Captain Inam said. He maintained that medicines provided by the District Health Officer while the FC health staff has been deployed in the hospital. Forces paramedical staff in the hospital said that the hospital opens at 9:00 am till 2:0 pm and after it is closed and doesn’t deliver to the treatment facility.
According to the official of C&W department the type (D) health center has been set up on 184 canal land with expenses of first phase completion work of 240 million rupees and 60 million rupees have been allocated for completion of the second part of the hospital. All necessary sections have been completed with required facilities including with supply of electricity of solar panels and is ready to confer it to the health department for public service, he added.
When Field Supervisor Medical Officer (FSMO) Dr. Usman was contacted on the matter he said that officially the hospital has not been handed over to the health department as the project has not been completed by the C&W. Temporary medical staff has been deployed in the health center to provide basic health facilities to the residents and after completion of the scheme, all necessary health staff and equipment will be provided to it, he remarked.
