ISLAMABAD – Desiring best possible care for the children admitted in the hospitals, particularly during the Eidul Fitr holidays, Prime Minister Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Sunday said all efforts were being made to extend quality care for the people in every nook and corner of the country.
Following a surprise visit to the children’s ward of the Federal Poly Clinic Hospital on the eve of Eid, the prime minister said that healthcare was high on the priorities of his government and all efforts were being made to extend quality care for the people in every nook and corner of the country.
The prime minister, along with Interior Minister Rehman Malik, shared happy moments with young children, who have been confined to their beds due to different ailments. He went to all children and gave them flowers, Eidee and sweets, making them smile for a while.
The prime minister during the visit noticed malfunctioning of air-conditioners making the children and their parents sweat profusely due to the high humidity. He directed Executive Director Dr Shaukat Kiyani to replace the faulty ACs for the patients immediately and said the Prime Minister House would foot the bill.
He also directed the Capital Development Authority to immediately hand over possession of over 2.5 acres of land to hospital administration for the expansion of the hospital that caters to the needs of thousands of people of Islamabad and adjoining areas.
The prime minister’s visit proved to be a big surprise for the children and their parents at the Polyclinic Hospital. For seven and a half-year-old Amna Maskan, suffering from gastro-enteritis, the Eid this year would be exciting as she got the eidee from none other than but the prime minister.
Prime Minister Ashraf also noticed the beautiful henna pattern on the hands and arms of the two-year old Ayesha, who has been suffering from pneumonia. Her mother told the prime minister that Ayesha wanted her mother to apply henna on her hands for the Eid. The young children also got a small box of sweets and could barely wait for the prime minister to move on, before asking their mothers to open the box for a quick bite.
The prime minister enquired from the mothers about the condition of their children and prayed to Allah Almighty for their early recovery. He also exchanged greetings. The parents appreciated his gesture of visiting the hospital and to share with them the joyous occasion.
Dr Shahzad, head of the Children’s ward, said the hospital was catering to 32 children, including a few in the intensive care, but they were facing problems because of poor air-conditioning system.
The hospital authorities said the air-conditioners could not be replaced because of a government ban, however, they hoped that prime minister’s directive for replacement in the patient’s wards would be a big help for providing a better environment for the sick.