TIMERGARA: Hundreds of residents of Talash took to streets on Sunday to lodge protest against the paramedics for causing suspension of services by a foreign non-governmental organisation at hospitals of Dir Lower.

Led by Anjuman Tajaran Talash president Haji Fazl Qadir and Jamaat-i-Islami leader Syed Mohammad Waris, the protesters gathered at the main bazaar and held a rally. Workers of different political parties participated in the rally.

They chanted slogans against Paramedical Association of Dir for getting stay order from a court against the services, provided by the foreign NGO at government hospitals in the districts.

The rally was addressed by district officer of Helping Hand, Relief and Development (HHRD) Mohammad Bilal, Fazl Qadir, Syed Mohammad Waris, Mehmood Babu, Bakht Rehman and Sher Mohammad.

Flay paramedics for getting stay order against activities of Merlin

They said that Medical Emergency Relief International (Merlin), a World Bank-funded NGO, stopped providing health facilities in Dir Lower because paramedics got a stay order against it.

They said that after the intervention of Merlin majority of hospitals in the district were made functional for 24 hours. They said that labour rooms, emergency and other wards were made functional and the hospitals were provided with standard medicines worth Rs3 billion.

The Merlin, they said, appointed 60 doctors, pharmacists and technicians in the district and made the health staff bound to provide health service to people. “The number of patients at OPDs in hospitals increased to 65,000 from 32,000 during November this year while 384 patients were admitted to different hospitals in Dir Lower,” the speakers said.

They said that some vested interest elements were creating hurdles for Merlin from the very first day as they did not want the poor people to be treated at government hospitals.

The speakers demanded of the government to allow the NGO to start its activities in Dir hospitals. They also appealed to chief justice of Peshawar High Court to form an independent commission to probe the allegations levelled by the paramedics against the NGO.

They threatened to intensify their protest if Merlin was not allowed to start providing health facilities to people in Dir hospitals.

Dr Irshad Roghani, Merlin team leader in Dir, told this correspondent that their organisation stopped activities and provision of services and medicines after Peshawar High Court Swat Circuit bench issued a stay order against it.

He said that Merlin had signed MoU with the provincial government. Under the agreement, it was Merlin’s mandate to hire the staff and provide health care facilities and free medicines to people at hospitals in Dir Lower, he added.

DRIVE: The district administration on Sunday razed several kiosks and cabins during a drive against encroachments along Timergara bypass road.

A team led by Assistant Commissioner Mohammad Ayaz Momand visited different roads and demolished several kiosks and shops built along the bypass road.

Talking to local traders, the assistant commissioner said that the drive against encroachers would be continued in the district. He said that no one would be allowed to occupy state land.

SUSPENDED: The medical superintendent of district headquarters hospital has suspended a male nurse Fazl Mula for his alleged negligence in duty that caused death to a minor at the hospital.

Talking to local journalists here on Sunday, MS Dr Hanifullah said that a two-member committee comprising Dr Mushtaq and Dr Fazl Rahim also finalised its findings about the mysterious death of the minor.

Published in Dawn, December 8th, 2014