CHITRAL: The X-ray facility in DHQ hospital, Chitral, is only available to patients of emergency ward while other patients are forced to visit private laboratories for the test as officials say the hospital lacks films and allied chemicals to cater to all the patients.

The residents said it was a troublesome act for an attendant to carry the patient to a private X-ray lab in the bazaar for test.

They said they were ready to pay additional fee for procurement of X-ray film and chemicals to avoid trouble of hiring cabs and going to private labs.

When contacted, medical superintendant of the hospital Dr Shamim admitted that the X-ray facility was available only to the patients of emergency ward as Rs1 million funds meant for procurement of X-ray films and allied materials had been diverted by the competent authority to coping with Covid-19 cases.

VIRUS GUIDELINES: Lower Chitral deputy commissioner Naveed Ahmed has asked the local people to follow the guidelines issued by the government to stop spread of Covid-19. He said the first death from coronavirus in Chitral should serve as an eye-opener for the residents.

Talking to mediapersons, Mr Ahmed said social distancing and wearing masks and gloves could protect the people from the virus.

Meanwhile, a jobless youth, Ikhlasuddin, set an example of honesty by returning Rs500,000 to its owner who had lost it on the road in Rayeen village of Upper Chitral.

Khwaja Khalil, a former councillor, told this scribe that a shopkeeper Dinar Wali Khan was riding a motorcycle when his money fell on the road and he knew about it after reaching his shop.

He said that Ikhlasuddin, 25, found the money on the road and informed the general public through social media to trace its owner.

Published in Dawn, June 1st, 2020