ABBOTTABAD, June 2: Local residents have urged the NWFP government to take over the field hospital set up by Cuban medical team in the Bakot union council.

The field hospital was recently handed over to the Pakistan Army’s medical team shortly before the Cubans left for their country. But the temporary arrangement would not last long and the major health facility would either be wasted or shifted to some other area. The field hospital was established in a BHU after the earthquake last year and the Cuban medical team had treated hundreds of thousands of people, including major surgeries.

Local residents have urged the government to upgrade the BHU’s status to RHC and appoint doctors and other staff.

The Bakot union council was the only area in Abbottabad which suffered major losses by the earthquake last year.

People have urged the NWFP government to take over the hospital and relieve the army’s medical team.

They said that in the absence of women medical specialists, a large number of women had to be referred to the Ayub Medical Complex and other distant hospitals.