SWABI, May 9: There is only one ward for children in the DHQ hospital here.The ward has only 15 beds, forcing the management of the hospital to allot one bed to two, and sometimes, three children at the same time. The ward remains overcrowded most of the time as the ailing children are accompanied by their mothers and sisters.

The most horrendous aspect of the congestion is that a child might contract his disease to another. “Although this is a very dangerous situation, but we don’t have any other option,” said a doctor.

The hospital has not been given facilities commensurate with its status of being the main hospital in the district that has a population of over one million people.

“There is no plan to expand the hospital in the near future,” said a doctor on condition of anonymity.

Sanitary conditions in the ward, too, are pathetic. It stinks, making it difficult for everyone to cope, especially for the attendants.

It seems the hospital is totally without any resources as a water pump and a power generator have recently been repaired by some individuals out of charity.