DASKA-After remaining disappointed by the Punjab government, the local philanthropists established a well-equipped Cardiology Ward at Daska Civil Hospital on self help basis through generous donations.
The philanthropists especially traders joined hands for the noble cause  to serve the local humanity. They have termed the cardiology ward a great blessing for the local patients. Earlier, the Punjab Health Department could not provide important instruments, equipments and machinery for the cardiology ward during the last five months.
Five months ago, after the decades-long wait, the government had established Cardiology Department at Daska Civil Hospital in a hurry without providing necessary instruments and staff there. The Punjab government had approved the establishment of the Cardiology Department without allocating any funds for the provision of cardiology equipments and medicines.
Zaheeruddin Babar is the only doctor who has been running the cardiology department in one room as no cardiology ward had been established there. The doctor used to check only the patients and refer them to the other government hospitals for their medical treatment. The people of Daska had expressed grave concern over the critical situation and expressed dismay over the alleged negligence of the local elected representatives who had not yet shown their interest in solving the issue.
The local patients were forced to go to the local private laboratories for further treatment while the number of the outdoor patients was growing day by day. Local social, religious and political circles expressed grave concern and said that the role of the management of Daska Civil Hospital was also disappointing, as it could not communicate the hospital’s matters properly to the high ups.
Assistant Commissioner Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhoon said that he deeply observed this situation and conducted important meetings with Daska based philanthropists seeking their active financial cooperation. He added that they had set unique example of self-help and collectively donated Rs20 million for the purpose.
The AC revealed that now, the well-equipped cardiology ward was functional at Daska Civil Hospital, which was upgraded to DHQ level hospital a few years ago for providing the better medical and health cover to the local patients.
The AC revealed that  the cardiology department had earlier lacked doctors, paramedics, central monitoring system, oxygen system, beds, head board, defibrillator at least 2-Synchrolized Defibrillator and external pacemaker’s device, temporary pacemaker at least x2,  resuscitation trolley one of the aforementioned defibrillator and drugs and backup  equipments and bags mask ventilation for the proper functioning of Coronary Care Unit.
It also lacked ventilator system, portable ventilator and anesthetic assistance for intubators, extubation from ventilator and during mechanical ventilator support, the AC said. It required cardiac message board one for every 3-4 beds, aspiration system x1, IV infusion pumps x2 for one bed, 12 leads ECG machine, blood glucose monitoring device and Serum Electrolytes &  Cardiac Enzyme Lab facility, he said. But now, he added, the philanthropists have donated generously and provided all of these medical equipments.