A welcome step: 36 health institutions reopen in Mohmand after 5 years

Work starts on reconstruction of schools and Mohmand-Bajaur Highway.

GHALLANAI:

Around 35 health centres have reopened in Mohmand Agency after five years and more development projects are underway, Agency Surgeon Dr Muhammad Riaz told The Express Tribune.

Dr Riaz said there were 24 community health centres (CHCs) in Baizai sub-division, of which 21 closed down in 2008.

At the onset of the new year, 18 CHCs were reopened by the political administration (PA), while 11 out of 12 basic health units (BHUs) also restarted operations in Safi tehsil of Upper Mohmand Agency. Moreover, seven BHUs were opened in Pandiali tehsil, said the agency surgeon, adding the rest will be opened soon.



Sixty five health officials along with class-IV employees, who were deputed in other areas of the agency, will be posted back to their respective institutions. The administration is also working on reconstructing schools and the 44-kilometre-long Mohmand-Bajaur Highway, shared Dr Riaz.

“All medical supplies, including medicines and equipment, have been sent to the centres.”



Health institutions were never targeted, but most of them were either without a building or the buildings were never properly functional. Dr Riaz said there were about 44 CHCs functioning in hujras on monthly rent and will remain open even after all the BHUs start working. Security to their staff will be provided by the peace committee and political administration.

“The rent of these CHCs, which is Rs2.64 million per year, was released, but never reached the owners of the hujras,” said Riaz, adding the FATA Secretariat and PA have launched an inquiry and the money will soon be paid to the people concerned.

He said a computerised record of all 87 institutions of the agency has been provided to the PA and army officials, who will monitor attendance of the staff. Anyone found taking unnecessary days off or slacking in duty will face disciplinary action.

Residents are hopeful the step will help restore peace in the volatile agency. “We will not have to go to Peshawar or Bajaur for treatment now,” said Firdous Khan, a resident of Safi tehsil. “But I hope this is not like the time when the PA said they are opening educational institutions. That announcement was only for the media, as the administration is yet to start working on the schools and colleges.”

Published in The Express Tribune, January 5^th, 2014.