MANSEHRA: A World Bank team has visited Kohistan to examine health services provided to the people by the Integrated Health Services, a private organsiation.

The delegation led by Inamul Haq visited rural health centres and basic health units in Dassu and Puttan areas and met with the people.

The provincial government has tasked IHS with providing health services to the people in Kohistan but the district health department has reservations about its (latter’s) domain and functions.

At BHUs and RHCs in some other districts of the province, IHS is already executing the role of the health department.

Urges people to keep an eye on performance of doctors, paramedics

People at the RHC, Puttan, the central headquarters of new Lower Kohistan district, apprised the delegation of their healthcare problems.

Likewise, the people of Dasu informed visitors about their demand for health services.

Haq blamed the delay in provision of health services to the people on the delayed handover of the health facilities to IHS by the government.

“We are committed to providing good health services to the people of Kohistan and will hold all those responsible for delay in the implementation of the conditions laid down in the memorandum of understating,” he said.

Haq said when he first visited Kohistan a few years ago, there was only a doctor in the entire district but the number had increase considerably besides that of paramedics to the relief of the people. He said if the health department handed over all 46 BHUs and RHs to IHS, the health services could improve markedly.

He urged the people to be vigilant to ensure that doctors and paramedical staff of government facilities do duty diligently.

‘ILLEGAL’ VEHICLES SEIZED: The Kohistan police have seized around two dozen vehicles, whose either chassis and engine numbers were tempered with or customs duty was unpaid.

The seizure came during a crackdown on such vehicles as a counter-terrorism plan.

“We have begun an operation against tempered and non-custom paid vehicles, which are a potential threat to security and is damaging national exchequer,” district police officer of Upper Kohistan Ali Rehmat told reporters here on Tuesday.

Ali said 22 ‘illegal’ vehicles had been seized and cases against their owners would be registered under sections 471,468 and 420 of CRPC.

DENGUE PATIENT DIES: A woman suffering from dengue has died in Mansehra, while 20 have tested positive for the mosquito-borne disease in the district.

Scores of suspected dengue cases have been hospitalised in the district over the last few weeks.

“We are aware of the (dengue-related) situation, which is under control. A woman, who had tested positive for dengue, has died in Abbottabad, while 20 of the 57 suspected cases of the disease has turned out to be positive,” district health officer Dr Shahzad Khan told reporters here on Tuesday.

Dr Shahzad said the deceased, a resident of Mansehra, was hospitalised at Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad and had died during delivery.

Published in Dawn, October 1st, 2014