KARACHI, Nov 20: Keamari, the second largest town of the metropolis, is home to a huge labour force that comprised mostly factory workers, fishermen and vendors trading in different commodities. Notwithstanding their immense contribution to economy, successive governments have done a little towards provision of basic health and education facilities and an infrastructure for these vital sectors in the town. The majority population is, therefore, faced with abject poverty, that entails numerous serious social and health miseries.

A survey of the coastal villages in the town shows that maternal mortality and morbidity rate is high and even deaths from preventable diseases are common. More painfully, most of the issues, including such deaths, go unnoticed and unreported, mainly due to the apathy of the successive governments towards the plight of the poor lot.

The recent death of 14 people — two of them pregnant women — from a viral fever took place in a single locality, Deh Allah Bano which comprises 18 villages of UC Gabopat. Demise of such a big number of people over the past three months brought to light the serious inadequacies in the town’s health infrastructure.

Residents of Deh Allah Bano fear that if the government continued to ignore the villagers’ health requirements, more people could fall victim to viral and other diseases. It is believed that deaths from such viruses often occur after heavy rainfall and this adds to the villagers’ concern as the metropolis has been registering a rising graph of rainfall for the past few years. Lack of transport facilities is seen linked with the mortality rate pertaining to health sector as most villagers cannot afford taking their ailing family members to some major hospital, located far away from the area.

Having a population of over 0.7 million, the town has no government-run hospital. Still, what is worse is the absence of any maternity home. The only mother and childcare health care centre that exists in the town is located in Bhit Island, (UC-4) which serves only as a dispensary. Most deliveries in the town are performed at home while some at a rural health centre, known as the Shershah RHC.

The other important health unit Keamari RHC provides only outpatient service for antenatal, eye and dental examination. The three-room centre has no diagnosis facility though it runs a TB unit.

Most of about 20 dispensaries functioning in different union councils have been facing shortage of staff and medicines. Three dispensaries in Hussaini Goth, Mubarak Village and Deh Allah Bano have been lying closed for years. Another dispensary, in Mowachh Goth, has been taken over by Rangers for maintaining law and order and they have been staying in it for years.

Town Health Officer Dr Nazeer Ahmed Kolachi acknowledged the lack of health infrastructure in the town and agreed that facilities needed to be upgraded.

“There are about 22 health units, but the government has improved SNE of only seven units that includes five basic health units and two rural health centres. Therefore, we will have to distribute the staff and medicines meant for seven units among all units.”

He also admitted that the units which were functional were also in a dilapidated state, adding that the Shershah and Keamari RHCs could be run round the clock since the units didn’t have accommodation for RMOs. Transport problem was another hitch, he added.

About the recent deaths in Deh Allah Bano, he said these coastal areas didn’t have a proper road network which had made people’s access to health care units difficult. “We desperately need adequate funds for making all health units functional, especially those in the much neglected coastal villages,” he said.