| May 26, 2007 | Saturday | Jamadi-ul-Awwal 09, 1428 |
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Unhappy with exam centre
A lesson from India
The maker and the shakers
NICVD & state of cleanliness
Services Mess in Karachi
Death of PTV
A loud whisper
Mature and wise
School vacations
KESC’s performance
Readers are requested to restrict their comments to a maximum of 400 words. We reserve the right to edit letters for reasons of clarity and space. Letters, including those by e-mail, should carry the complete postal address of the sender. The views expressed in these columns do not necessarily reflect the views of the newspaper.—Editor
WE appreciate the concern shown by you in the editorial, ‘For better healthcare’ (May 21) about the problems in delivery of health services at the level of BHUs in the rural areas of Sindh and Pakistan.
However, it is strange to note that in spite of admission of little knowledge about the programme; a conclusive judgment is pronounced about the sustainability of the programme, as well as about the huge infusion of funds on the basis of wrong figure of Rs10 billion, which is Rs2 billion, that too for the period of 30 months through RSPs.
It would have been more appropriate to have collected the information before writing these lines.
On the same day, while commenting on the CDWPs’ projects, effort of the government towards public-private partnership model has been applauded.
However, unfortunately the President’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), again a public-private partnership model between non-profit organisations and the government, is criticised.
The PPHI programme is not for the first time in Sindh or the NWFP, rather it has already been piloted at Rahimyar Khan district in Punjab and upscaled in partnership with Punjab Rural Support Programme in 13 other districts of Punjab.
Under the programme, administration and management of the BHU dispensaries are transferred to RSPs along with the existing budget of these facilities allocated by the respective district governments.
The RSPs have the full fiscal and administrative autonomy to plan health system, plug leakages, organise and create ownership of the communities by establishing the community support groups, incentives for the contracted staff and to rationalise the human and financial resources, etc.
The Rahimyar Khan model has achieved four-fold increases in patient turnover, reduced absenteeism, doubled immunisation cover, organised thousands of community health sessions and, above all, for the first time, female medical officer cover is provided at the level of each BHU, by clustering five BHUs in a group.
This is the first policy intervention whereby health cover to women and children in rural areas have been properly provided. The precious pregnancy, blood sugar and haemoglobin tests are being conducted by the FMOs which have certainly reduced the vulnerabilities of the poor people.
All this has been done without any extra financial burden or foreign loan. The programme is also appreciated by the World Bank report 2005.
The PPHI is replication of RY Khan model in all three provinces and AJK under the directives of the president of Pakistan. This is a 30-month intervention and would finally be absorbed into an autonomous primary health directorate.
The government of Sindh has signed a MoU with SRSO, Sindh, whereby in the first phase they have handed over 10 districts of Sindh.
The PPHI, Sindh, has recently started its programme in Sukkur and Kashmore, whereas Mirpurkhas and Khairpur will soon be in the net. We welcome the visit of your correspondent to these two districts, so that people are informed properly.
DR RIAZ AHMED MEMON
Karachi
DISSATISFIED parents voiced their concerns about the arrangement system at one of the centres allocated for the holding of O and A level final examinations. Many parents live far from the Expo Centre, Fortress Stadium, and cannot leave their children for their paper, go back home and then come again to pick them up. So they wait as long as the paper continues. But the wait has become ever harder as they were asked to sit under tents, outside the centre on plain, uncovered ground.
When permitted inside, they could squat down on one side of the entrance into the centre. With no carpets on the floors and no water in the toilets, the wait has assumed the likeness of something akin to a trial or punishment.
Even for the students who were attempting the examination, the airconditioners and fans were not working ideally. And to add to this, there are no formal arrangements for edibles for the students, the teachers or the parents; not at least inside or near the centre. While the Fortress Stadium itself is equipped with a number of eating and relaxing places, they are not usually open in the morning shift of the papers. When these restaurants are open, towards the afternoons, they get filled with crowds of people wanting to have a bite or to relax after their examination.
Many parents, especially women, had to request the organisers many times before they were allowed to sit inside the centre. Another big problem for the students is that the level of the writing desks is quite low, making them bend down throughout the span of the examination. One disgruntled mother said the conditions were the same two years back. “We give so much money for our children’s studies and their examination fees, but to no avail”.
Many parents were of the view that examinations should be held at centres which are well-equipped with resources and basic facilities. On average 25 to 30 parents stay at the centre but are not provided any shelter from duststorms and the heat. Many contended that centres should not be at such far-off places but within easy-to-reach distances.
A teacher accompanying her students from one of the schools said that there was not even a single drop of water in the toilets, both up and downstairs. “The stink from the toilet areas is diffusing throughout the hall and one question I would like to ask the authorities concerned is that where are the thousands of dollars, which are amply provided by the parents for their children’s’ education, going to? We definitely need to revamp our education system,” she added.
When one of the organisers was contacted regarding the problems being faced by the students and their parents, he said that the day’s malfunctioning of the airconditioners, fans and water was due to a power failure.
Arrangements for final board examinations like O and A levels should be made by being more conscious of the needs of the students and their parents, for even the condition under which a candidate takes her or his examination affects the outcome to a large extent.
SADAF SIDDIQUI
Lahore
I REFER to the news (May 19) regarding the bomb blast in Makkah Masjid in Hyderabad, Andra Pradesh, India, which killed several worshippers there. The following are a few facts about the Masjid, with the complement of my several friends, which will be of interest to your readers:
The magnificent Makkah Masjid was built by Mohammad Qutb Shah, the sixth sultan of Hyderabad, the nephew, son-in-law, and successor of the founder, Mohammad Quli Qutb Shah.
It is the second largest mosque in India and seventh in the world, situated in the heart of Hyderabad just a few metres away from the famous Charminar. It is called so because it is said that the central arch of the mosque is believed to have been built of bricks brought from the holy city of Makkah.
The construction of the mosque started in 1627. At that time the sultan invited anyone in the gathering who had not missed the daily five prayers for laying the foundationstone of the mosque. When no one came forward, he himself got up, declared that he had not missed any prayer since the age of 12 and then laid the foundationstone.
The mosque was incomplete even after 60 years due to shortage of funds. At that time Aurangzeb conquered Golconda in Hyderabad and people requested him for funds. He dismissed the request saying cynically, Kaar-i-jahaan draaz ast/ Har cheh geerad mukhtasir geerad, meaning that people should not undertake tasks which they cannot accomplish in their short life. However, later he relented and sanctioned the amount and completed the Masjid in 1702, after 15 more years.
The huge hall of the mosque has columns built on either side made of single pieces of granite. It can accommodate up to 10,000 at a prayer time. Innumerable Ayats from the Quran have been intricately depicted on the arches of the Makkah Masjid.
For wuzu (ablution) there is a soothing blue water pond with seating arrangements at the edges of the pond and it is believed that if a visitor sits on it, the person will surely visit Hyderabad again.
It may be noted that old Hyderabadi, secular, harmonious and united spirit reigns still among the people there, not only among the Hindus and Muslims, but also Sikhs, Jains, Parsis, Marwaris, Budhists, Christians and others; as there were no communal riots in Hyderabad following the bomb blasts in Makkah Masjid.
As against this, it is a sad and surprising contrast to see the non-existence of Islamic, harmonious and united spirit on May 12 at Karachi., the day when Satan struck in the hearts of men.
A. RAHIM
USA
THIS is with reference to Ardeshir Cowasjee’s article, ‘The maker and the shakers’ (May 20). He writes, “Pervez Musharraf: General of the army, Chief of Army Staff. He had no alternative on October 12, 1999, but to take over the country from a most foolish prime minister, Nawaz Sharif.”
This statement has got two parts, first, no alternative on Oct 12 and, second, Nawaz Sharif being foolish.
I will not argue about the foolishness of Nawaz Sharif, but saying that Musharraf had no alternative sounds as if Mr Cowasjee is also deluded by Musharraf’s tactful bit of maintaining the army’s image as the only deserving class of rulers. Let’s say if a prime minister commits any mistake/blunder, does it mean that the world should be turned upside down? Does political system not deserve any other alternative?
I am an old reader of Dawn and Cowasjee’s columns; he used to repeat the Quaid’s words in his every other article. Why he forgot that Pakistan came into existence as a result of a pure political movement and the Quaid was not any army general.
The Quaid had had dreams for this country to be run by its people and if it is not clergy, then at least not even by army generals.
I believe Gen Musharraf and his team had an alternative if they had not planned the coup. He could have challenged his dismissal in the court.
But the sad part of the story is that no one in this country believes in the supremacy of law and that’s why he army always prefers to impose martial law rather than thinking of any alternative.
YASER MAQSUD
London
I HAVE on several occasions been to the emergency department of NICVD for self and friends and have always been impressed at the streamlined approach to attending the patients. Although the wards are packed, it does not seem ‘rushed’ and the patients are satisfied with the attendant and treatment.
Even when you lose a patient, you know that they have done their best for the patient.
Some time ago a close friend phoned me about 3am, informing me her husband had a heart attack and was being admitted to NICVD.
She asked me to bring our parish priest along to anoint him.
I picked up the priest and took him over to the hospital, and was told that our friend was on the 5th floor. I approached the lift operator and told him we had to go up to the 5th floor but he ignored us. However after arguments he took us up.
As no private room was available, we got our patient on to the bed which was a bit small and he could not lie completely straight. Anyway the doctor started to examine him. Suddenly the doctor disappeared, so we went looking for him.
Across the corridor was the ladies’ ward and a patient had taken a turn for the worse. The doctor was pumping her chest and doing everything else to revive her.
This was being watched by us, through the glass window, the patients in the room and several relatives of hers. The reason being there was no curtain to pull around the patient, in fact there were no curtains at any of the beds in both the wards.
The poor lady finally died and losing interest we went back to our own patient, where we were horrified to see several cockroaches crawling on him. The cabinet near the bed was filthy so we used a newspaper to line the cabinet. This of course attracts more cockroaches.
The doctor asked for some medicine, so the patient’s brother, also a heart patient, had to walk down to the ground floor to buy the medicine and walk back up the stairs as the lift operator refused to bring him up. This was experienced by most of the attendants who had to go down to get medicines.
I was taking a turn sitting near our patient’s bed, swatting cockroaches and thoroughly bored, when I noticed the oxygen outlet near his side. Some one was being provided oxygen, I started with shock and glanced at our patient, heaving a sigh of relief when I saw it was not for him.
I took a look at the patient on the other side of him, no oxygen there either, losing interest I was thinking of ways to keep myself awake, when someone came in rolling a trolley for one of the patients to have some test done.
Suddenly there was a commotion as the trolley had pulled out some tube from another patient. This vetted my interest and I started watching the patient and the attendants right across on the other side of the ward. The oxygen supply had been pulled out and they were replacing it. The mystery had been solved. The oxygen supply at the side of our patient’s bed went across the floor of the ward right down to the other side. When the breakfast trolley came around, this was repeated, as the tube came out again. I can’t understand why there was no supply closer to the said patient.
Next afternoon we finally got permission to move our patient to the CCU on the second floor, a cleaner place but the bed a tight squeeze.
There should be some way to clean up the wards. The hospital may seek volunteers from the general public to assist them and also ask some industry to donate curtains. Metal rods are in place, just no fabric. Of course, the reluctance of the lift operator to take passengers can mean more business for the hospital.
This is just one experience and I pray that no one should have to go through this experience.
YVETTE FRANKLIN
Karachi
IT USED to be called Services Club but when the Central Board of Revenue introduced tax on clubs’ incomes, the Services Club was renamed the Services Mess. Maybe the rationale was that the mess/club was not meant to earn huge profits and, instead, it provided cheap services to its members who comprise the serving and retired officers of the armed forces. That is no longer the case.
In the past 12 months, the fee/rent structure of Services Mess, Karachi, has gone up many times and it seems that the institution is now a profitable business concern. What bothers me, however, is why should this institution continue to call itself a mess and not a club and, hence, keep avoiding the tax?
The fee structure for civilian non-members is exorbitantly high and comparable with that of many private institutions that pay normal taxes like CED, sales tax, withholding tax and income tax. The CBR should think about giving a notice to the mess for payment of taxes. Even for members, the fee structure for various services is being increased by the administration on one pretext or the other. No problem with that, but then the members and civilian users of Services Mess facilities can calm themselves with the thought that the organisation is paying taxes too.
I hope Abdullah Yousaf, chairman of the CBR, reads this letter and decides to do something.
ASFA NAZ
Karachi
ACCORDING to our national channel, PTV, all is just well. Except for the coverage of our president, prime minister and government dignitaries and functionaries, there is no violence shown on the channel. Meanwhile, the content seen on private TV channels is just fake and conjured-up movies.
There is no violence in Karachi. Islamabad cannot see any blast, fires nor bloodshed in Karachi because it is not telecast or aired on PTV.
PTV is dead, long live private channels.
BARKATULLAH MARWAT
Kuwait
ARGUED by a learned advocate before the large bench of the apex court that if the CJ claims to be different from other honourable judges, he can be removed by a simple notification by the federal government.
Came the quick but louder whisper from Justice Ramday that even that was not necessary. A letter was enough (May 18).
This remark speaks of despotic government which governs the people of Pakistan.
GHEEWALA
Karachi
THE massive demonstrations by its people against nomination of Abdullah Gul as Turkish president, and the aspirant decision to defer to public demand, speak volumes about the maturity and wisdom of the Turkish public in adhering to the founding principle of secularism.
There is a great lesson in this event for the people of Pakistan. If they allow themselves to be led by the parochial and destructive concepts of a religion-based polity propagated by a small minority of militant clerics, the country could land into a state of perpetual conflict and violent upheavals.
Even now the extremist leaders of various sets and subsets indulge into violent fights over ‘ownership’ of mosques. With their unshakable faith in the supremacy of their respective cults, the innumerable may be then leading incursions into each other’s dominions and creating hellish conditions for the peace-loving people.
This could mean economic doom, a total nose-dive in the country’s position internationally, flight of capital and talent, and tearing apart of the social fabric. The very integrity of the country could then be at stake.
S.H. TEHSIN
Karachi
THIS has reference to a news item, ‘Govt, schools clash over summer vacation’ (May 22) in which the government representative wanted schools to resume on Aug 16. Would someone explain how the next generation is supposed to understand the importance of Aug 14 if schools are shut on that day?
When I was young, schools started around Aug 5 and for the next 10 days we practised national songs and skits and were encouraged to wear green and white on Aug 14. Apart from this very important aspect, policymakers should take into account that several strikes and public holidays disrupt the academic calendar, and students are forced to come on Saturdays.
The authorities concerned should look into the matter and make arrangements for the private and public schools to commence in the first week of August.
NADIA MUSTAFA
Karachi
NOW that the power outages are more frequent and with longer durations, the KESC should adopt the following slogan to reflect its future:
KESC: Taking you back into the dark ages.
KHALID LAKHANI
Karachi
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