MINGORA: Scores of relatives of patients staged protest on Monday against absence of doctors and medical staff at Saidu Teaching Hospital (STH).

They staged the protest after the death of a six-month-old child, who was admitted to the children ward of the hospital. They alleged that the child died due to negligence of doctors.

“When my child’s condition worsened I ran here and there in search of doctors but failed to find any doctor and my child expired,” said Mohammad Khan, the father of the child.

He said that the hospital remained crowded with trainees and students of Saidu Medical College but senior doctors and employees rarely visited it. He also said that no free medicines were given to him by the hospital administration.

“The staff daily suggested me medicines worth thousands of rupees which I brought but did not receive a single medicine free from the hospital,” said Mr Khan, a resident of Batkhela.

Death of child blamed on doctors’ negligence; nazim orders inquiry

District Nazim Mohammad Ali Shah reached the hospital and listened to the protesters. He ordered an inquiry into the matter.

Rejecting the allegations regarding absence of the medical staff, STH Medical Superintendent Dr Maqsood Ahmad said that an immediate inquiry was launched to see the real cause of the child’s death. He said that action would be taken against the staffers responsible for it. 

CANDIDATES: Hundreds of candidates, who have already appeared in the NTS test for the posts of secretaries in local government, held a protest demonstration on Monday against the decision of provincial government to reappear in the test.

Holding placards and chanting slogans against the provincial government, the candidates from different areas of the district marched towards Swat Press Club.

The protesters said that they appeared in the NTS test for the post of secretary in village or neighbourhood councils which was held in Peshawar in July last but recently the government cancelled the test after public complaints about irregularities in the recruitment process.

“In the scorching heat during the month of Ramazan we went to Peshawar and took the test. We were waiting for interview call but the government cancelled the test,” said Wali Rehman, a participant of the demonstration.

The protesters said that PTI made hollow claims about bringing change. “We do not know as to what was wrong with the previous test for which we travelled to Peshawar.

We spent a lot of money including test fee. Now the government has asked us to reappear in the test and spend more money,” said Izhar Ahmad, another candidate.

Similar protests have also been held in Khwazakhela, Matta, Barikot and Kabal tehsils by the candidates, demanding of the government to reverse its decision regarding the fresh test.

Published in Dawn, October 13th , 2015

On a mobile phone? Get the Dawn Mobile App: Apple Store | Google Play