NAROWAL, July 29: People of the area have expressed their resentment over what they said habitual absence of the staff of Qila Ahmedabad Rural Health Centre (RHC) situated some 16km on Narowal-Sialkot Road.

The RHC has nine-member staff, including doctors, dispensers and technicians, but most of them often remain absent from duty.

Residents say the staff is allegedly taking turns attending the centre.

This correspondent visited the health centre on complaints of the people of the area and found it in a precarious condition. Except one the centre’s all rooms, including those of doctor, lady doctor, gynaecology and general ward were locked. Three staffers — nurse Munazza, midwife Nusrat Bibi and Naib Qasid Muhammad Anwar were on duty.

The centre was like a deserted building and lawns had assumed the ambience of a jungle. Insects and bugs can be seen anywhere. The X-ray plant and the ambulance were out of order. The centre was also short of medicines even for fever and influenza.

Residents Bushra Bibi, Muzzafar Ali and Naseer Ahmed told Dawn that they never got any medicine from the centre.

They said patients had to purchase medicines from market. They said people had to visit quacks or private doctors owing to the absence of doctors and other staff.

“I have come from Lalah village for treatment of the fractured leg of my husband, but have been informed that the X-ray machine and the ambulance are out of order and the doctor is not available. I have been asked to take my husband to Narowal,” Rasheed Bibi told this reporter.

Local people have urged the Punjab chief minister to take notice of the situation and ensure attendance of the staff and provision of medicines and equipment at the centre.