Healthcare in shambles: Only two vans for HIV/AIDS control in Sindh, Sindh lawmakers told

Health minister reveals during question-answer session on Monday

KARACHI: The HIV/AIDS control programme of the Sindh government has only two vans to make rounds and spread awareness about the disease, the Sindh Assembly was informed on Monday.

Sindh Health Minister Jam Mehtab Dahar was responding to a call-attention notice moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Functional's (PML-F) Shaharyar Mahar, who is a member of the opposition, when he revealed this fact.

HIV/AIDS is spreading fast across Pakistan but the provincial government has yet to take proper measures to mobilise people about it, said Dahar. The health minister assured that they will purchase more vehicles and expand their operations in each districts to educate people about the disease.

Another opposition member, Muttahida Qaumi Movement MPA Muhammad Dilawar Qureshi, raised the issue of the non-functional cardio ward at Government Paretabad Hospital in Hyderabad. The cardio ward has not been operating despite the availability of almost all equipment, he said.  "Doctors and paramedics are getting the salaries and an annual budget is also released but the ward is lying non-functional," he said.

Dahar refuted, however, his claims that the cardio ward is closed. The provincial government is going to appoint two more cardiologists through the public service commission, he added.

The Sindh Assembly session started on Monday morning with speaker Agha Siraj Durrani in chair. PML-F MPA Nusrat Sehar Abbasi diverted the attention of the House towards 1,300 government vehicles that are allegedly registered with fake numbers. "We want to know about any action taken by the government against the officers involved in it," she said.

Excise and taxation minister Gianchand Israni insisted the report was fake. "No vehicle has been registered with fake number plates," he said.

Earlier, food minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah said that the government has taken action against corrupt officials in his department and has referred cases involving corruption of Rs600 million to the anti-corruption establishment and the National Accountability Bureau.

When asked about the vigilance and monitoring of the wheat procurement and stocks, Shah said, "At present, no vigilance committee exists in the food department for the disposal of wheat stocks."

Most of the agenda for Monday's session could not be taken up as the speaker adjourned the session due to protest by the opposition parties on the issue of Rangers special powers. A privilege motion, an adjournment motion, eight bills that were supposed to be presented in the House after the governor's assent, and 10 other bills that were supposed to be introduced were on the agenda list.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2015.