HYDERABAD, May 23: The adviser to Sindh chief minister on health, Nauman Saigal, has directed the managements of all the civil hospitals of Sindh to keep their drug stores open till 9pm to facilitate the patients failing which action would be taken against them.

He was speaking at a polio advocacy seminar and inaugural ceremony of a free medical camp organized by the Sindh Health Organization at Sheedi Goth, Qasimabad, here on Thursday.

He said that he is setting up his camp offices at several hospitals to ensure better medical facilities to the people.

He said the government had allocated sizable funds to provide care and cure facilities to the people and stressed the need for community participation to make the health programme a success.

The adviser said that an immunization programme has been launched in the province to protect the people against dangerous diseases.

He expressed hope that Pakistan would be declared a polio-free country within a year, and added that thereafter a comprehensive programme would be launched to eliminate other dangerous diseases.

He announced an ambulance for the Qasimabad Hospital and a wheel chair for a polio victim girl.

Earlier, the chairman, Sindh Health Organization, Dr Nasir Jamal Pathan, in his welcome address requested for approval of SNE for the Qasimabad Hospital, and establishment of a basic health unit at Sheedi Goth.

He sought the help of NGOs in health awareness programme.

The others who spoke at the seminar included the director general, Health, Dr Qadir Bux Memon; the EDO, health, Dr Ashraf Bhurgari; Tanvir Shaikh and Liaquat Panhwar.

SURPRISE VISIT: Mr Saigal paid a surprise visit to the Civil Hospital, Hyderabad, at 8:30pm on Thursday and removed five officials from duty, including the in charge, drug store, for not keeping it open till 9pm.

During his earlier visit in the day, he had issued specific instructions to keep the drug store open upto 9pm to facilitate patients. He paid the second visit to check how far his instructions were being followed.

He ordered an inquiry into the non-compliance of his instructions and to suggest action against the delinquents.

The inquiry will be conducted under the supervision of the provincial health secretary.

Talking to the people who had gathered around him, Mr Saigal said that a permanent monitoring system was being put in place to monitor the hospital affairs and to ensure that proper medical facilities were being provided to the patients.

He warned the doctors that he would be paying frequent visits to the hospital.

The director general, Health Service, Sindh, Dr Qadir Bux Memon, and the EDO, health, Dr Ashraf Bhurgari, were also present on the occasion.

WASA: As per the earlier announcement, the Water and Sanitation Agency (Wasa), Hyderabad, launched an operation against its defaulters on Friday.

The recovery coordinator of Wasa, Shaukat Hayat Bhutto, in a statement said that the water supply of those defaulters who owed Wasa Rs2,000 or more would be disconnected.

He said for this purpose the city has been divided into three circles under three commercial managers, Saleem Gul, Naeem Shaikh and Muneer Ahmed Shaikh for Hyderabad, Latifabad and Qasimabad Talukas respectively. They will be assisted by their respective teams and take necessary action against the domestic, commercial and industrial consumers.

The commercial consumers include petrol pump service stations, sweet marts, bakeries, ice factories, hotels, restaurants, marriage halls and caterers.

The Wasa authorities have warned that installation of motors on water connections is an offence and an FIR would be lodged against the perpetrators of this crime.

The authorities have also warned the water thieves to regularize their connections by May 30 after which they will be arrested under the land revenue act.

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