KARACHI, Aug 24: Advisor to Sindh chief minister on health Faisal Malik on Tuesday ordered suspension of three officials of the health department and sought an explanation from the Town Health Officer Saddar for negligence.

During a visit to the THO office in Saddar, he checked the attendance register and noticed that no proper leave record was being maintained. He expressed dissatisfaction over mismanagement in official matters and directed suspension of assistant superintendent Mohammad Asif, store-keeper Ishaq and junior clerk Saeed Jadoon for negligence.

He also took notice of the absence of THO, Dr Nausheen Kehar, and called her explanation. The advisor visited different offices and noticed that official deep-freezer was filled with drinking water bottles rather than vaccines and there were a large number of expired medicines in the shelf.

He took samples of expired medicines. Later, he visited the Directorate of Nursing Sindh at 2pm adjacent to THO Office Saddar. He checked the attendance register and found all employees present on their duties. Deputy Director Nursing Roobi Iqbal gave a briefing on certain issues.

He expressed concern over improper upkeep of office files and asked the staff to maintain files and place them in a safe and secure place. He was informed that the new building of the directorate was under construction and after its completion, office record would be kept properly.

Earlier, the health advisor visited the Town Health Office Keamari and the Sindh Government Dispensary Sultanabad. He administered polio vaccine to children and sought a report about the ongoing polio drive.

Dr. Abdul Jabbar at the Sultanabad dispensary briefed him about the polio vaccination plan and informed that 13 teams will administer polio drops to children on their doorstep, eight in Sultanabad and other in Intelligence Colony territory.

The advisor also visited the Gizri Maternity Hospital and MCH Centre and inquired about the polio vaccination drive. He also visited the office of the birth and death registration of UC 2, Kehkashan Clifton, located in the premises of the hospital and made inquiries about fee.

He expressed concern over the functioning of a general store and PCO at the hospital and asked the EDO Health Fazal Elahi Memon to submit a report about the matter.

An OT technician of the hospital was running the shop without paying any rent. MS Dr Nazima told the advisor that the shop was allowed by the hospital administration and it was for the convenience of poor patients to facilitate them in the premises of hospital and all items were provided on subsidised charges to patients.

He also directed the EDO to prepare a report about the details of allotment of all eight residential flats of the hospital. On his visit to Sindh Government Dispensary in Punjab Colony, the advisor expressed concern over the pace of polio drive.

He noticed different packings of polio vaccines. Only one doctor was present in the dispensary. After his visit, he told newsmen that negligent staff would be reshuffled for an improvement of the situation. - PPI