GILGIT, Oct 15 The shortage of health facilities has hit hard the 25,000 population of the upper part of Hunza valley, which is still cut off from the rest of country due to the artificial lake formed after a massive landslide early this year, residents complain.

“The entire population is dependent on a 10-bed hospital in Gulmit, headquarter of the tehsil, where you will find no specialist doctor except a medical officer who alone cannot cater to the needs of area people,” Sana Baig told Dawn.

The area bordering China remains isolated due to the lake that has submerged the 22km section of KKH and the only way of transportation is boats. The boat service also remains suspended in case of inclement weather.

“Majority of the area population is living below the poverty line and most of them have lost their means of income, so they cannot afford to avail health facilities in other parts of the country,” said Bibi Samina, who had come down to Gilgit to get herself examined by a consultant.

The patients, she added, were banking on the paramedics in Gulmit hospital.

The promises made time and again by the former GB governor Qamar Zaman Kaira, Chief Minister Syed Mehdi Shah and senior health authorities could not be fulfilled despite lapse of a long period of time, the residents say.

When contacted, District Health Officer Dr Iqbal told Dawn that not only upper Hunza but the entire district lacked specialists and the department was also facing shortage of manpower. The higher authorities were being informed in this regard from time to time but no senior doctor was ready to work in this area.

He appealed to the NGOs to come forward and play their role in this regard.