HYDERABAD, March 1: District Nazim Kanwar Naveed Jamil has called upon managements of charity hospitals, private investors and philanthropists to join hands with the district government in providing proper health facilities to people, especially to the underprivileged section of the society.

He was speaking at a ceremony to inaugurate a three-day eye surgery camp organized by the management of the Qasimabad District Hospital in collaboration with the Prevention and Cure of Blindness Cell, Karachi, on Tuesday.

He said the increase in population had consumed all resources of the state and, as such, the government alone was not in a position to cater to the needs of people.

Listing services of charitable hospitals, including Hilal-i-Ahmer, Khidmat-i-Khalq Foundation and Memon hospital, the nazim said medical facilities were still lacking in the district. Therefore, he said, participation of the private sector and philanthropists was required in providing medical facilities, especially to people in neglected areas.

He said the district government was giving priority to the health sector and it was extending cooperation in terms of expertise and financial aid to charitable health units under the Sindh Devolved Social Services Programme. He said the government was also willing to help private investors in this field.

Mr Jamil said there were 62 big and small hospitals in the district run by the district government which were providing medical treatment to more than 3.5 million people annually.

He said the district government was working to increase the capacity of existing hospitals and reactivate abandoned hospitals. He said the government had provided Rs20 million to the district heath department to achieve health delivery objectives.

He said that under this programme, an ambulance had been provided and the monthly food budget had been increased from Rs25,000 to Rs100,000 to the Qasimabad hospital to facilitate indoor and outdoor patients.

The nazim said efforts were being made to ensure basic facilities to people at their doorsteps.

He said the district government was planning to bring rural area of the district at par with the urban area in terms of development.

In his welcome speech, Qasimabad hospital medical superintendent Dr Khadim Lakhair said it was for the first time in two to three years that food and medicines were being provided to indoor patients with the financial assistance of the district government. He said that due to these facilities, 22 major operations were conducted in one week. Besides, he said, the hospital was also delivering charitable services to needy people.

Qasimabad Union Council-3 Nazim Yamin Soomro sought more funds and medical staff for the hospital. Dr Nisar Memon, eye specialist, said four eye surgeons had been engaged for the three-day eye camp where more than 100 patients would be operated upon in one day. He said medicines would be provided to patients free.