HEALTHCARE is considered one of the most important departments in any society. It is essential for a government to facilitate and take care of the people’s health. The Sindh government is often seen criticising the opposition and the federal government for what it believes to be apathy towards healthcare.

However, its own performance is disappointing and questionable. On July 19, district education office of Qambar Shahdadkot directed all teachers and staff to get tested for coronavirus. My mother is a primary school teacher. On the instructions of the administration, my mother and her colleagues went for the test, which was being conducted by the district civil hospital under the supervision of their healthcare teams. What happened after that was shocking and unexpected.

On July 22, the district health office announced the results. Amongst all 37 female teachers, my mother tested positive for the virus. Despite being absolutely fine with no such symptoms of being infected with coronavirus, she tested positive.

We were amazed. It was difficult for me and my father to handle household. The district education administration directed my mother to quarantine herself. As we could not believe it, my family decided to get her tested once again from a private laboratory.

I took my mother to Chughtai Lab in Larkana on July 24 to get her tested for the virus. After two days of immense depression, finally we got reports, and with the grace of Almighty Allah, my mother tested negative. This truly reflects incompetence of the Sindh government.

I urge Sindh Health Minister Azra Fazal Pechuho, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah and PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari to take immediate action on this and ensure the people of Sindh are provided better healthcare.

Sheeraz Buriro

Qambar Shahdadkot

Published in Dawn, August 1st, 2020