KARACHI: Efforts urged to improve basic health services
KARACHI, April 25: Sindh Minister for Local Bodies, Katchi Abadis, and Special Development, Mohammad Hussain, expressing his concern regarding health care services has called for concerted efforts to address the situation.
Speaking at a day long free vaccination camp at the Khurshid Begum Medical Centre, Pak Colony, Manghopir Road, on Friday the minister said high infant mortality rate of 90 children per 1,000 in the country, which was mainly due to preventable ailments, must be a cause of serious concern for all.
“The situation reflects serious loopholes in the health care system of the country,” he said, adding that morbidity rate among local children was also much higher as compared to many of the other developing countries around the globe.
The minister said that mere verbal claims at various levels could not improve the situation and that concrete measures were required to ensure sound physical as well as mental health of the people.
He said to provide basic health facilities to the people at the grassroots level, close links would be built between different departments.
He said poverty, illiteracy, surge in rural and urban population, non-availability of potable water, faulty sewerage system and food adulteration were playing havoc with public health.
He said it was joint responsibility of Pakistanis to ensure that all children were duly immunized against seven deadly ailments, to protect them from death as well as from physical impairment.
The camp, where children falling in the age group between 1.6 months and two years, were being vaccinated against polio, tetanus, tuberculosis, whooping cough, measles, diphtheria and hepatitis-B, was largely visited by parents along with their offspring, belonging to nearby localities.
The minister, while personally inquiring the well being of many of the visiting parents and their children, also took a round of the medical centre, including hospital and maternity home operating in the premises.
The minister also expressed his concern regarding the absence of any path to and from the Qaim Public School, Karachi West, functioning under the city government, despite the fact that 130 children were enrolled there.
He directed the officials concerned to initiate road development programme at the site under the Khushal Pakistan Programme.
A former MPA, Abdul Qadir Lakhani, TMO, SITE Town, Tariq Hussein Ghullo, along with other officials, were also present on the occasion.
Meanwhile, accompanied by MPA, Abdul Sattar Ansari and officers of the SITE Town, the minister paid a surprise visit to the Hasrat Mohani Colony, wilayatabad , Asif colony, Zuberi colony and other areas of the Pak Colony to inquire about the quality of municipal services being provided to the residents.
The residents of the areas showed, local schools, back streets and inner roads of the area, which were in shabby conditions, besides the minister witnessed poor state of the parks, many of which were encroached upon.
He ordered the closure of a dyeing factory, which was being operated on a residential plot number P-4.
He also ordered the closure of an illegal hydrant operating in the area,taking serious note of the sanitary conditions in Pak colony, the minister directed the officers concerned to improve these conditions and ensure proper water supply to the Pak Colony.
He also met elders of the area who criticised the councillors and Nazims of the SITE Town for not only ignoring the problems of the locality but also of having indifferent attitude towards the complaints lodged by the residents.—APP/PPI
