|
|
|
| May 18, 2005 | Wednesday | Rabi-us-Sani 9, 1426 |
Govt urged to improve rural healthcare
PESHAWAR, May 17: Speakers have urged the federal government to focus on improvement of rural healthcare facilities to help 80 per cent of the people living in remote areas of the province. We have to impart training to health professionals in rural areas and develop health facilities there, so that health of the mother and child could be improved, said provincial Health Minister Inayatullah Khan in his concluding remarks on the second day of a two-day workshop organized by the health department in collaboration with the Unicef here on Tuesday.
The minister deplored that the patients in rural areas had to cover a long distance on foot to reach the health facilities which exacerbated their condition. He asked the federal government and the donor organizations to extend their help to impart training to health professional in rural areas and give them incentives.
“We have identified nine districts, where the doctors, paramedics and nurses were reluctant to work. They should be given incentives in the shape of special salary packages”, he added. According to him, non-implementation of the Local Government Ordinance 2001 had badly hampered the progress in the health sector.
“Neither the executive district officers (EDOs) nor the district Nazim had the power of transfers, postings or budgetary affairs. Confusion prevailed in all departments”, he said.
The minister also showed his dismay over holding of workshops in five start hotels, asking the donor organizations to spend the same amount in the training of health workers.
Paediatrician Prof Dr Abdul Hameed was of the view that every programme be started on permanent basis, saying that adhocism would deliver nothing. For the success of every programme, it was of paramount importance to incorporate in the routine health programmes so that benefits could trickle down to the masses at the grassroots level.
He lamented poor education facilities for nurses who played important part in the promotion of MCH activities. According to him there were only four instructors for 400 students at the college of nursing at the Khyber Teaching Hospital. There was no curriculum and books for them at all, he said.
The workshop was also attended by district Nazims, DCOs, lady health workers, doctors and representatives of the donor organizations.
EDO, Health, Peshawar, Dr Saeed Ahmad was of the view that establishment of public service commission office at the district-level would pave the way for the appointment of local people on permanent basis.
|
|
|
|
