Dera Ghazi Khan-The Loharwala basic health unit has been left at the mercy of negligent officials. The unit is established to meet the basic health need of more than 40,000 people of this under-developed area of ‘most developed’ province of the country.
A dispenser, Kaleem Ghori, is running the unit as no male medical officer has been posted so far in this conservative area. The incharge, women medical officer Dr Saadia Balqees, remains either absent or on leave.
The criminal practice of stealing electricity at the BHU goes unabated, thanks to Dr Saadia Balqis. Though funds for utility bills have been provided, no one bothers to hold accountability. The BHU administration has been defying the Hospital Waste Management (HWM) Rules-2014.
The only labour room of unit presents a picture of trash bin and the rest of structure is in a shambles. Five residential buildings are in dilapidated conditions while broken doors and shatter windowpanes tell another sorry story. Moreover, the unit lacks ultrasound machine, X-rays, lab and an ambulance.
No proper check on counterfeit medicines has been leaving the poor patents in the lurch.
When contacted, official concerned Abid Ali said just five ambulance vans and ultrasound machines have been provided by Punjab Health Department in District DG Khan.
There are available at Chotti Zareen, Chabri Zareen, Jhoke Uttra, Tabi Qaisrani and Makwal Kalan units.
However, he admits that the unit lacked operation theatre to cope with the C-section challenge, thus the patient is compelled to take to any developed hospital of the district.
He also admitted male patient are being treated by dispensers at BHUs due to non-posting of male doctors there.
The provincial government has been claiming to have bought in health reforms. The local people have made an appeal to the chief executive of the province to take notice of the situation.