THIS refers to the news item ‘Basic health units lack basic facilities’ (July 30). It states that most of the government-run basic health units (BHUs) and dispensaries in rural areas of Sindh are without basic facilities and necessary equipment.
It further reports that health units lack furniture, drinking water, sanitation and medicines and while quoting Mr Elahi Buksh, the regional head of the SPO, Karachi, it says that during the focus group discussions district officers pointed out that health units’ staff usually remained absent and their performance was unsatisfactory. The news is based on the findings of a survey conducted by SPO, through community organisations.
It is, however, very surprising to note that the People’s Primary Healthcare Initiative (PPHI), which is efficiently managing the affairs of all BHUs and dispensaries in Sindh was neither invited to this workshop, nor contacted to verify the truth.
THE PPHI rejects these findings and holds that either the survey never took place or the organisers have no idea about what revolution in the field of primary healthcare services have been brought about by the PPHI.
At every HF under the PPHI a qualified MBBS doctor, LHV/M/W, technicians, quality drugs and lady doctors on every alternate day are available with all necessary basic medical instruments and equipments/diagnostic tests.
Moreover, the ARV/ASV is available at PPHI HFs and such cases are being referred back in large numbers to the PPHI BHUs.A large number of round-the-clock MCHCs have been established by converting the BHUs with large turnover and prominent/strategic location into these MCHCs, trained female staff placed, where a handsome number of safe free-of-cost deliveries are taking place every day.
In the area of vaccination services also the PPHI has added 200 more vaccination centres, appointed trained vaccinators at places where prior to PPHI initiative there were no vaccination centres available.
A large number of BHUs have also been electrified and more than 600 BHUs/GDs repaired, renovated and rehabilitated.
Very recently the PPHI has also launched ambulance services at its MCHC centres located in remote rural areas to strengthen its referral services.
Free ultrasound services at PPHI HFs on a cluster basis are another achievement. It is very pertinent to mention here that for all these services no extra funds were sought from the government.
All the former district governments also entered into partnership with the PPHI and transferred their BHUs and GDs to the PPHI for efficient functioning. Some of the districts even insisted to take over their RHCs for improvement in services.
The PPHI, Sindh, therefore, not only challenges the findings of this so-called survey but also very legitimately regards the whole exercise as an intellectually and professionally dishonest venture of magnificent altitude, for which a formal complaint is being lodged with the SPO’s country chief.
HUZOOR BUXRegional Programme DirectorPPHI, Mirpurkhas