KARACHI, Aug 2: The health department of the City District Government Karachi (CDGK) has embarked upon a series of ambitious projects to help citizens in the provision of facilities which are either non-existent or inadequate.

Executive District Officer (EDO) for Health Dr A.D. Sajnani said here on Thursday that the initiative had been taken to have a central blood bank, a hepatitis diagnostic and treatment centre as well as a network of mortuaries at five different hospitals in Karachi.

“These are the facilities which are either absolutely non-existent or inadequate for the fast growing population of Karachi,” he said.

The central blood bank, a two-year project to be completed at a total cost of Rs250 million, was said to become partially functional in two months.

The EDO for health said a centrally located site, near the mausoleum of the Quaid-i-Azam, was being equipped to help start blood bank facilities for Karachiites.

Answering a question, he said it could be availed by all citizens free of charge but on an exchange basis to make the facility sustainable.

Elaborating, he said properly screened whole blood or its components could be procured from the CDGK's central blood bank on prescription, but relatives or friends of the recipients (patients) will be required to donate blood in exchange.

“The blood to be provided by the bank would be fully screened for all viral and bacterial infections,” he said.

In reply to another question, he said the Sindh Blood Transfusion Authority had been approached to provide necessary support and guidance for the project.

He said senior pathologists including Dr Tahir Shamsi and Dr Sarfaraz Jafferi, associated with the Bismillah Taqee Center for Blood Diseases, and the Hussaini Blood Bank, respectively, were assisting the CDGK blood bank, which gradually would also have the provision to diagnose and treat different blood diseases.—APP