Pakistan

Candidates lure voters with promises to fix healthcare

Complain of lack of clean drinking water in capital’s outskirts

Photo: Huma Choudhary/Mariam Shafqat November 28, 2015

Activists preparing party flags for Election Day activities. PHOTO: HUMA CHOUDHARY/EXPRESS

ISLAMABAD: Candidates from various parties as well as independents contesting the local government elections in the capital have vowed to fix the healthcare services in the outskirts of the city.

A number of these candidates, while talking to The Express Tribune on Saturday, pointed out the absence of medical staff at dispensaries and clinics in their constituencies.

They complained of lack of adequate funds to improve medical services, unsatisfactory security situation, street crime, roads needing repair and unavailability of clean drinking water, in the outskirts of the city.

A number of contestants said that they could offer much better health services simply by effective utilisation of funds allocated for dispensaries and making sure presence of required staff.

According to UC-13 general counsellor contestant Asif Aziz, who is running for general counsellor in the Humak Town Union Council (UC) said that the newly-built dispensary in the constituency is still not operational.

He added that no female doctors had been appointed at the dispensary as yet.

“We could not do anything about it earlier but in case I win, I would take action against medical staff that are stationed here on paper but refuse to show up for work,” Aziz said.

“Apparently, whatever funds that were allocated for this dispensary were only utilised on paper. One cannot even find any medicine at the dispensary, which forces people to go to private clinics,” said Zafar Mehmood, an independent contestant from UC-13.

Chaudhary Nadeem, who is contesting elections from UC-14 Sihala had a similar story to tell about health services in his area, where a dispensary building is standing, but no paramedical staff or medicine is available.

“All that we have ever seen from the government with regards to healthcare are polio teams who may visit here,” he said.

Independent candidate Chaudhary Sarwar said that if he wins, he plans to coordinate with NGOs for collaborative efforts to improve health and education in his constituency.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 29^th, 2015.