ISLAMABAD: Nearly four years after the announcement was made, the first rural health centre (RHC) of the city has been properly renovated and provided with health facilities. Residents of Bhara Kahu can now taken patients to the RHC in emergencies instead of rushing them to Polyclinic or the Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (Pims).

A biometric machine has also been installed at the RHC to ensure all 18 employees of the hospital are on duty.

In April 2012, as many as 127 people had died in a plane crash in Hussainabad, a rural part of Islamabad. The accident happened after sunset and there was no electricity in the area. As many as 100 ambulances from Islamabad and Rawalpindi were dispatched to the site of the accident and a large number of citizens also went to help but the road was choked. It was later realised that not more than 20 ambulances were required.

This started a debate that RHCs should be renovated and provided with all facilities so that patients can be taken to the nearest RHC in an emergency.

The health centre now has a laboratory, a functioning ambulance, CCTV monitoring and trained healthcare personnel

In 2014, the then deputy commissioner Islamabad Mujahid Sherdil had announced that RHCs across the city will be renovated and provided with health facilities so that health personnel working in the centre can also easily reach sites of accidents and inform health departments about the requirement of ambulances and the condition of patients.

Almost four years after the announcement, the RHC in Bhara Kahu has been upgraded and provided with facilities including life saving drugs and even a laboratory has been established with the support of the private sector.

Talking to Dawn, Assistant Commissioner Islamabad Dr Asif Rahim said the new biometric system was installed to ensure all 18 employees in the centre are on duty.

“All employees will have to clock in and out via the machine so their duty hours are confirmed,” he said.

Mr Rahim said seven CCTV cameras have been installed which will help the medical superintendent of the RHC to monitor the employees. Also, after the installation of a software in a few days, it will be possible to view the footage from the cameras at the deputy commissioner’s office.

“The RHC ambulance was out of order and has now been repaired so that very serious patients can be moved to Pims or Polyclinic after receiving first aid. Eight laboratory tests can be performed in the RHC now so people do not have to go to private facilities. These include Blood CP, liver function tests, renal function tests, malaria tests and hepatitis B and C tests.

The revamping project also includes training lab technicians and doctors at the centre for giving standard and quality diagnostic and therapeutic services to Bhara Kahu residents.

He explained that such projects are delayed due to financial reasons and that the chairman of the Islamabad Diagnostic Centre, Dr Rizwan Uppal had therefore provided financial support under corporate social responsibility.

Published in Dawn, January 16th, 2018