KOHAT: People and social activists here have demanded removal of heaps of garbage from the Women and Children Hospital dumped near its canteen and ward. They said that the garbage had not been removed for three months.

The garbage is spreading stinking smell and all kinds of germs, while the patients and their attendants have to eat from the nearby canteen.

Tehsil nazim Taimoor Ali Khan visited the place along with local mediapersons after the matter was publicised on social media. He said that the tehsil municipal administration had been blamed for the problem, but it was the responsibility of the hospital administration to keep the place clean and ensure disposal of garbage at a suitable place from where the TMA could remove it.

Mr Khan said that during his visit he found that all the 12 sweepers of the hospital were absent from duty along with the three gardeners, generator operator and four dispensers.

“This speaks volumes about the performance of the hospital administration in running its affairs. The medical superintendent should solve the grave concerns of the people otherwise I will be forced to lock his office,” he warned.

He told the mediapersons that he would ask the authorities concerned of TMA to remove the garbage immediately and in future it should be collected and put at a right place by the hospital staff. He said that the garbage would be removed within a day or two.

The nazim also expressed his anger at cooking of food at the hospital canteen in unhygienic conditions and asked its owner and the MS to ensure supply of clean food and water to the people.

Scavengers, mostly Afghan children, collect items like empties of drips and syringes from the filth which could be recycled.

Published in Dawn, October 3rd, 2016