Patients have to travel downwards to the valley even for treatment of minor medical cases.
GULMIT: Tehsil Gojal is located at the upper most part of Gilgit-Baltistan (G-B) and has a population of around 25,000. Its location along the the Pakistan-China trade route adds to its importance. The tehsil’s border meets China through the Khunjerab Pass and it also connects to Afghanistan in the Chipurson Valley. It is the largest tehsil in G-B but has been neglected by the government in all aspects of development. The role of NGOs in the development process, however, is commendable.
Health facilities in the region have been the most severe of problems that the people have been facing for a long time. The only hospital — that too with only 10 beds — has an inadequate number of doctors. People regularly suffer due to the unavailability of health facilities here. Moreover, Gojal has been facing a disastrous situation for the last five years as people are forced to travel by boat to access the lower parts of the country for their basic needs. Recently, three youngsters lost their lives due to improper treatment at the hospital. Several deliveries have taken place inside boats because maternity facilities are unavailable at the hospital. Patients have to travel downwards to the valley even for treatment of minor medical cases. I request the chief secretary to take notice of the situation and do the needful.
Tariq Rahim Khan
Published in The Express Tribune, March 26th, 2015.
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