January 08, 2009	Thursday	Muharram 10, 1430

KARACHI, Jan 7: The Spencer’s Eye Hospital building, located in a Lyari locality, is in dilapidated condition with the ceilings of several wards decaying and may collapse any time.

Hospital staff, patients and visitors risk their lives when they visit the the dangerous structures while expensive medical equipment placed in the wards are also under the threat of damage.

Hospital sources requesting anonymity said that the city government had neglected the old and very important health care facility which was in need of immediate and extensive repair and renovation.

They said portions of the walls and ceilings of the wards had already collapsed and only a few days back, a similar incident happened when a big chunk of plaster of the ceilings of the corridor in front of the hospital kitchen suddenly came off. Fortunately, no one was present under the falling debris, they added..

Medical Superintendent Dr Sarwar Parwaiz, when contacted, said that the sanitary system of the first floor had already worn out and water was seeping into the roof and walls.

This had caused falling of ceilings plaster and also resulted in damage to medical equipment in the past, he said, adding that some rooms and wards had been closed to avoid injury to people and damage to more equipment.

He said that acting upon a complaint, City Nazim Syed Mustafa Kamal had ordered repair work but it could not be carried out despite a lapse of four months.

Situated on Siddique Wahab Road in Lea Market area, the hospital was established in 1938. At present, this hospital is being run by the city government and considered to be the biggest public sector eye hospital of the city.—PPI