Bajaur’s Barang area Hospital lacks staff, equipment

KHAR: The residents of Barang tehsil in Bajaur Agency have demanded of the government to provide medical staff and equipment to the Rural Health Centre (RHC). Villagers told The News that three doctors, two paramedics and two Class-IV workers had been working in the health facility since 2003. Only the in-charge of the hospital, Dr Niaz Bahadur, medical technicians, two nurses and Class-IV employees were, however, performing their duties regularly. They lamented that most of the gynaecology cases were being handled by the midwives because of the non-availability of lady doctor at the hospital. They added that an ambulance and generator had been approved by the government but still not provided to the RHC. A cleric, Mufti Muhammad Tayyab said he called on the political agent of Bajaur Agency and agency surgeon to resolve the problems of the hospital but to no avail. He said that the ambulance approved for the hospital was being used by staff of the Khar Headquarters Hospital. Pakistan People’s Party leader Sher Khaistam said the seriously ill or injured patients often died while being shifted to other hospitals. A tribal elder, Malik Hazrat Noor said the residents contacted the political agent and agency surgeon several times and discussed the issue but nothing was done so far. “Some 18 vacant posts of Class-IV have not yet been filled which indicates the lack of seriousness of the health authorities about improving the situation,” he lamented. Medical Superintendent Dr Niaz Bahadur said that he had discussed the matter with agency surgeon but no steps were taken to resolve the problems. When contacted, Additional Agency Surgeon Dr Zakir Hussain said Lady Doctor Mursha and Dr Shah Muneer were appointed two years ago. He disclosed that he had already warned them to regularly perform their duty at the hospital. “Now the only option left with us is to transfer or dismiss them,” he added. To a query, he admitted that the ambulance was being used by the medical staff of the Agency Headquarters Hospital though it had been approved for the RHC Barang tehsil.