JHANG, Dec 26: Although the government is spending billions of rupees on the improvement of health and education, the condition of both these sectors is extremely miserable in Jhang district, admits district coordination officer Muhammad Arif Khan in a press handout.

Apparently ignorant of the situation hitherto, the DCO came to know of the pathetic plight of these two vital segments in the jurisdiction of the district government during a recent visit to a primary school and a rural health centre in the rural area of the district.

Commenting on the condition of Chak 231 Kamoka rural health centre, the DCO said that a hospital which was supposed to be headed by an MBBS doctor, was being run by a medical technician, assisted by a peon. The medical officer posted there was found absent form duty, since last one month, as was the case with other five staff members.

Sanitation was deplorable. Local villagers were using the residences of medical officer and other staff members, lying vacant, as godowns.

Some of the residential quarters were being used as toilets by the villagers. The buildings were also facing the prospect of immediate collapse due to lack of maintenance, remarked the DCO.

The district coordination officer also paid a surprise visit to the Mochiwala RHC, to discover that nine of the staff members were absent from duty.

The DCO later visited a primary school of Chak 231, Kamoka, where only 93 out of 600 students were present and most of the teachers were also missing. Spread over an area of 40 kanals, most of the school was under the illegal cultivation of local landlords.

Instead of taking any action himself, the DCO directed the school headmaster to approach revenue department and police to get the land vacated. The DCO has, according to the handout, expressed disappointment at the miserable condition of the rural health centres but the official handout does not mention any action taken by the DCO against the culprits.