GUJRAT: The Punjab government has approved upgrading of the Kunjah Rural Health Centre (RHC) named after Maj Shabeer Sharif Shaheed to the level of Tehsil Headquarters Hospital comprising 40 beds.

A sum of Rs207 million has been allocated for the purpose.

District Coordination Officer (DCO) Liaquat Ali Chattha announced this while visiting the Shabeer Sharif RHC on Wednesday. He also said the project would be executed soon after issuance of the initial installment of allocated funds.

The RHC is established on five acres and at least 300 patients visit it daily. It catered to the needs of 300,000 people from rural areas surrounding the town.

The DCO said Rs128 million would be spent on construction of a new building for the THQ whereas Rs77 million would be provided for purchase of latest medical equipment. Specialist doctors such as surgeons, physicians, child and eye specialists and skilled paramedical staff would also be recruited for the THQ after its construction.

The DCO was told by the head of the RHC that there were no funds available for repairing the lone ambulance and micro lab, upon which Chattha pledged to provide funds immediately.

It was also announced by the district government that the annual budget of X-ray at all RHCs of the district would be enhanced from Rs128,000 to Rs200,000.

Published in Dawn, February 20th, 2015

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