| June 3, 2003 | Tuesday | Rabi-us-Sani 2, 1424 |
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Keenjhar tragedy
Better maternity care
THE decision to resign, en masse, by all 24 district Nazims in the NWFP represents a full-blown crisis. That this should have happened as a result of alleged harassment and blocking of development funds by the provincial government is all the more disturbing. The fact that the Nazims in question chose to send their resignation letters to President Musharraf, instead of forwarding these to the chief minister or the provincial governor, is indicative of a complete collapse of trust and confidence between the local body heads and the provincial government. Among the main reasons for the wholesale resignations, the district Nazims have alleged arm twisting and levelling of what they call spurious corruption charges against some of them, out-of-turn transfers of bureaucrats, recruitment of officials, blockade of development funds to the districts, and a lack of response to some of their complaints from the National Reconstruction Bureau.
Among some of the inherent flaws in the devolution plan, which brought in the elected local government bodies in August 2001, the absence of a mechanism to resolve disputes and differences between the district and provincial governments was a major shortcoming. Because elections to the local bodies were held on a non-party basis, and because the provincial and federal governments came in as a result of the party-based elections in October last, certain problems in regard to harmony and adjustment were to be expected at the initial stage. Clearly, the presence of a non-political and non-aligned local government bodies in the NWFP does not fit in well with the MMA’s ideological scheme of things, its orientation and priorities. The latter may have the legal authority to play the watchdog over the local affairs, its actions, as alleged by the district Nazims, did not help matters. This is borne out by the coming together, in desperation, of all the 24 NWFP district Nazims who are not politically aligned with any particular group or political party. Instead, they represent a wide and varied spectrum of local issues and interests at the grassroots level and are mandated to effectively run and manage the local government in the province.
Notwithstanding the gaping holes that may have been left in the devolution plan by its progenitor, the National Reconstruction Bureau, the system has been running reasonably well without a major breakdown or a paralysis as in the case of the NWFP. There have been no public outcries of protest or complaints of corruption or inefficiency against the elected Nazims from any other province so far. Which goes to show that the system is quite capable of overcoming its initial teething problems and evolving into something better as time goes by. The federal government and the president do not have a direct say in the affairs of the local governments as these clearly fall within the provincial jurisdiction. For political reasons, the MMA government might prefer acceptance of the resignations to clear the ground for fresh local elections. This may add to the present level of political disharmony and polarization in the country — a situation which is already obstructing and delaying a transition back to democracy. The best option in the given context would be for the NWFP governor, as representative of the centre, to attempt a reconciliation between the aggrieved Nazims and the provincial government. Any such compromise must of course include proper attention to the problems and grievances that have led to the collective resignations by the NWFP Nazims.
THE deaths of at least 25 people, mostly women and children, in Keenjhar Lake near Thatta on Sunday is a tragedy of horrifying proportions. Residents of Karachi and members of the same family, the victims had all gone to the lake for a daylong picnic. Accommodating passengers well beyond its maximum capacity, two boats carrying the family capsized in the middle of the lake because of high winds. At least some of the deaths could have been avoided if first aid facilities had been available by the lakeside. Six of the victims were taken out by rescuers alive and could have survived had they received prompt medical attention. The nearest hospital was more than twenty miles away and they died on the way while being taken there. This tragedy should serve as the last warning to the provincial tourism department to provide safety facilities at all of the province’s lakes, especially Keenjhar and Manchar which are among the more popular picnic spots. What is strange is that in spite of many drowning tragedies in the past, both the tourism department, which charges a substantial fee for visiting picnic spots, and the local administration have remained indifferent to the urgency of putting the essential safety facilities and first aid at these places.
The on-going summer season, coupled with school and college holidays, is bound to see a sharp rise in the number of people visiting Sindh’s tourist spots, especially the Keenjhar lake. Hence, the need to immediately put in place adequate safety measures at all such places. This includes deploying lifeguards and medical and first aid facilities by the lakesides. Merely putting up notices warning swimmers against the dangers of going far into the lake is not enough. Also, sail boat owners must be required not to carry passengers beyond their capacity and to have life-vests for all passengers. Had this simple safety procedure been in place, the lives of most of the 25 who died might have been saved.
THERE is an urgent need to ensure that Karachi’s government-run maternity homes are not left lying underutilized and that they provide the medical care they were built for. According to a report, a significant number of infant deaths that happen every year in the city could be avoided if the centres were open round-the-clock and were adequately equipped and staffed to provide comprehensive pre- and post-natal care. In fact, let alone comprehensive treatment, less than one in six is able to provide expecting mothers even basic emergency care. Many of the city’s government-run maternity centres operate only for a few hours in the morning. Doctors and staff posted there presumably find it more profitable to work in private facilities or in their own clinics. It is up to the health department to look into the matter and ensure that the medical staff reports for duty at the government facility where they are employed.
Proper monitoring of the working of doctors and nursing staff is essential if the government wants its maternity homes to provide any real treatment and care to deserving patients or else the latter will be left with nowhere to go. According to medical research, a large percentage of births happen during the night. Hence, it is imperative that the city’s health department sees to it that the maternity homes under its control are open, adequately staffed during the evenings and have ambulances to ferry expecting mothers who cannot afford to come on their own. There has to be a proper way of ensuring that the resources and funds allocated to maternal care are not grossly underutilized as is unfortunately the case right now.