KARACHI: Foundation stone laid for trauma, cardiac units
By Our Staff Reporter
KARACHI, Feb 22: The foundation stone of a trauma centre and emergency cardiac unit was laid on Sunday by the adviser to the chief minister on health at the Sindh Government Hospital Korangi No 5.
MPAs Shoaib Bukhari and Jarrar Hyder were present on the occasion. The extension work at the hospital is being carried out a cost of Rs20 million.
Speaking at the foundation-laying ceremony, the provincial health adviser, Noman Saigal, observed that with the addition of a centre for neuro-surgery, an intensive care unit, a trauma unit and an emergency cardiac unit, the hospital would become a model health-care facility for the people living in Korangi and Landhi.
They would not be required to rush towards the Civil Hospital Karachi or the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre in case of emergencies. Mr Saigal directed the project officers and the hospital staff to carry out their duties honestly and with devotion.
Corruption and carelessness would not be tolerated, he added. He declared that the extension work would be completed by the middle of 2006. Shoaib Bukhari, speaking on the occasion, promised that the project officers would never face a shortage of funds should they carry out their duties honestly. "We can even pledge to provide limitless funds to you but corruption would not be tolerated."
Mr Bukhari said that he would be looking into the possibility of getting the hospital affiliated with a teaching institution so that the postgraduate doctors and house officers could be imparted training there.
Dr Nizamuddin Memon, the Medical Superintendent of the hospital, was of the opinion that the expansion work was good news for the residents of Landhi and Korangi.
Dr Shakil A. Siddiqui, a chest expert, said it took at least half an hour for a patient to be driven from Korangi to the National Institute of Cardio-Vascular Diseases.
"These thirty minutes are crucial for any person who suffers a heart attack. If the person suffers a second heart attack on the way to the NICVD, his or her life would be at considerable risk.
"That is why, we need to establish emergency cardiac units in the government-run health-care centres spread throughout the city of Karachi." He pointed out that the population of Landhi and Korangi was increasing rapidly. "Therefore, there is a need to enhance the capabilities of the health units nearer their doorsteps."
