PESHAWAR, Sept 17: The federal government has allocated Rs558 million to complete 19 new and 75 ongoing health projects in the Federally-Administered Tribal Areas (Fata).

“Work on new projects, such as the Fata medical college and health management information system (HMIS) for which Rs190 million and Rs30 million have been set aside in the ADP 2006-07, will begin in the current fiscal year,” an official of Directorate of the Health Services (Fata) said.

The aim of the HMIS was to coordinate, monitor and manage health institutions in tribal belt and equip them with modern technologies and instruments while students of the tribal areas would be given admission to Fata medical college, he said.

Upgrading and rehabilitation of the existing health facilities for which sufficient amount has been earmarked in the ADP was part of the government’s strategy aimed at bringing Fata at par with the other areas of the country.

Launching of comprehensive programme to control communicable diseases such as hepatitis and malaria besides establishment of health foundation at a cost of Rs40 million had been planned to bring tribesmen into the mainstream of national development.

A large amount had been allocated for land for the agency headquarters hospital in Khar, Bajaur Agency, and construction of buildings for the existing community health centres (CHCs), the official added.

As many as 10 CHCs and civil dispensaries in Mohmand agency, five in Khyber, three in FR Peshawar, 10 in Orakzai Agency, two in FR Kohat, three each in FRs Bannu, Lakki Marwat and Dera Ismail Khan would be set up, besides facilitating all the agency headquarters hospitals with the facilities of eye-care centres, latest equipment, electricity generators for ICUs, CCUs and operation theatres.—APP