CHITRAL: Mismanagement and disorder was witnessed at the anti-corona vaccination centre established in the district headquarters hospital here the other day as hundreds of people were found struggling to reach the counter for vaccination.

Also, there is no separate desk for female visitors.

The elderly and women complained that all this happened due to mismanagement of the hospital administration which should have set up separate desks.

They regretted that the management had failed to make arrangements for the people to wait for their turn. They said the hospital had sufficient space, staff and vaccines, but it could not set up proper desks.

When contacted, the hospital’s medical superintendant Dr Shamim said he had visited the centre and was taking steps to ease the situation.

He said majority of the people visiting the centre belonged to Karimabad and Arkari valleys for whom a vaccination centre should have been opened in Shoghore village.

Focal person for vaccination Dr Farman Nizar said that for opening a vaccination centre in basic health unit of Shoghore village, the approval of the director general was mandatory. He said the proposal for opening of the centre in Shoghore to facilitate the people of Arkari and Karimabad valleys would be sent to the concerned authorities.

Lower Chitral DC Hasan Abid said the situation arose as the DHO was on leave for the last three weeks.

THREE COMMIT SUICIDE: Three persons committed suicide in two separate incidents in Upper Chitral the other day.

Two cousins Gulfam, 20, and Rukhsana, 19, jumped into Chitral River in Long Gol village of Terich valley. The body of Gulfam was retrieved from the river near Torkhow while search is continuing for the other.

In another incident, one Khaleel Ahmed, 29, allegedly stabbed himself and died in Sonoghur village.

Published in Dawn, May 6th, 2021