12 June 2004	Saturday	23 Rabi-us-Saani 1425

KARACHI, June 11: The rural areas of Karachi, while suffering from shortage of basic necessities of life, are also exposed to malaria, gastrointestinal diseases, Hepatitis A and C, due to the crumpling public healthcare system there.

Over 50 per cent of dispensaries and other healthcare units of the City Government of Karachi in rural areas are non-functional and many of these are closed. Local bodies' representatives of the area have warned of serious health problems, if precautionary measures are not taken.

According to an elected representative, the health sector was very poor in these areas posing serious threats to health of people. He alleged that there were several dispensaries, which drew millions of rupees in terms of the allocated budget every year, but that money goes into the pockets of officials instead of being utilised on improving public healthcare system.

He maintained that people of these areas, due to poverty, were highly vulnerable to Hepatitis A and C viruses, which were often diagnosed only after doing a great deal of harm.

Health experts suggest that the government should initiate health programmes for increasing access to healthcare, particularly for women, and management of healthcare services.

They said city high-ups were aware of problems in rural areas, but did not care to take any step for resolving the same. It was learnt that some basic healthcare units and maternity homes were not adequately equipped to handle even routine emergencies associated with childbirth.

Many such maternity homes, for instance, did not have operation theatres, and those that did, failed to follow timely and safe procedures, causing loss of lives or complications, affecting maternal health and well-being. - PPI