Attock - A government rural dispensary (GRD) established almost 95 years ago is waiting for a miracle as it has been completely ignored by the health authorities for quite a long time. As per the Attock district gazetteer, this dispensary was established in 1926. This GRD during the last 95 years has been providing health facilities but now for the last some years, it is being ignored by the authorities and no funds are released specially for its maintenance.

This dispensary at present has a qualified MBBS doctor and medicines are also available but the building and furniture give a look of old relics as its maintenance has not been done for the last two decades.

People of more than 20 villages which include Nilhad, Dhok Bhangi Khel, Sukhwan, Dhok Rehmat, Lunda, Bandiwan, Dhok Haji Ramzan, Bhatha, Chhoi, Naka Khurd, Naka Afghan Dhok Sherin visit it. Beside this, people from KP areas who live in areas near Makhad Sharif which include Shakardara, Rehman Abad, Chishmi, Jamal Mela also visit this dispensary to avail healthcare facilities. 

Maintenance work not carried out since 2 decades

According to medical officer GRD Makhad, sufficient medicines are available and one dispenser is also available to assist him. However, people of the area are mostly un-satisfied with the health facility and complain about shortage of labs and medicines, and availability of other facilities. Residents of the area said that a lady health visitor must be posted here as no facility for childbirth is available. The total area of the dispensary is 17 kanals 11 marlas and covered area is 1.14 kanals. The rooms built for dispensary and ward are devastated and out-of-order and toilets are also non-functional.  At present, the dispensary is being run in the residence of the medical officer. Thousands of people who depend on this healthcare facility have requested the authorities to allocate special funds for the renovation of the building of GRD Makhad.

A notable of the area, Khalid Lodhi, told this journalist that many a times the issue has been highlighted in media but to no avail.

CEO Health Dr Jawad Elahi when contacted said that repair of the building of GRD Makhad will be done when funds will be available.

DC Attock Imran Hamid Sheikh who held an open court in Makhad Sharif was also apprised of the pathetic condition of the GRD. He promised that steps will be taken for the rehabilitation of this dispensary.