18 July 2004	Sunday	29 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

KARACHI, July 17: The Gizri Maternity Home of city government is facing shortage of doctors and nurses. According to the medical superintendent of the maternity home, Dr Nazima Asad , the centre is providing 24-hour emergency cover to the patients in the back drop of three to four surgeries on daily basis besides over 100 deliveries per month. However, she said, the maternity home had only one Resident Medical Officer and two Medical Officers at its disposal.

She said that only three nurses were working at the maternity home, but there was no substitute arrangement available. At present, she said, two of the nurses were on leave and the only nurse working at the maternity home was tremendously over burdened.

According to her, the women from Punjab Colony, Gizri and slums located in the vicinity seeking necessary reproductive health care also visit the centre after being refused by traditional birth attendants.

The turn over of more than 200 patients daily at its OPD enhanced the urgency to have a proper arrangement for more doctors and nurses, she stressed.

Dr Nazima Asad said that the budgetary allocation of all city government health care centres had been slashed under an emergency cut, yet through the support of local philanthropists the centre had been able to ensure regular medical supply.-APP