GUJRAT: The number of patients suffering from AIDS in Jalalpur Jattan has risen to 750 and the district government has established a special treatment centre for them.
A medical officer from the local health department, Dr Basharat, has been posted as head of the centre, which will also provide free medicines and laboratory tests.
Official sources said the Punjab AIDS Control Programme had launched a comprehensive plan for Jalalpur Jattan. Health department officials said the disease mainly spread due to utilisation of used syringes by two known quacks of the town more than a decade ago and since then the number of patients had been rising.
Though official figures showed the number of patients was around 750, but locals claimed it was much higher.
District Coordination Officer (DCO) Liaquat Ali Chattha said the district government in collaboration with the Punjab AIDS Control Programme and some other non-governmental organisations had planned a comprehensive campaign to eradicate the epidemic from its roots.
Meanwhile, the district government proposed a scheme of changing water supply pipes of the entire town to ensure provision of clean drinking water to its 150,000 residents surrounded by a good number of villages.
SUSPENDED: The headmaster of a high school in Lakhanwal village was suspended by the DCO on Tuesday on the complaints of elders of the village.
During an open court, residents of Jalalpur Jattan demanded the Gujrat Tehsil Municipal Administration immediately withdraw the 100pc increase in water supply bills upon which the DCO assured them he would review the decision. The locals also complained about high transport fares.
Some people from the rural areas also lodged complaints of cattle theft upon which District Police Officer Rai Ijaz Ahmed, who was also present at the open court, directed the police officials concerned to take immediate steps and recover the stolen cattle.
He announced that a separate desk would be set up for issuance of police character certificates. A temporary camp was organised by the traffic police to issue driving licences.
Meanwhile, the district government regularised at least 35 in Grade 4 contractual employees of the education department workers.
Published in Dawn, December 31st, 2014