Up in arms: THQ Hospital Shabqadar closed amid protests

SHABQADAR:

Tehsil Headquarters (THQ) Hospital, Shabqadar remained closed on Tuesday amid protests against the lack of basic health services and a shortage of power at the facility.

A large number of protesters – led by tehsil councillor Maulana Rahmanullah, village nazim Manzoor Khan and elders from the area – gathered outside the hospital. The hospital’s out-patient department as well as other sections at the facility remained closed.

While talking to The Express Tribune, Jamaat-e-Islami leader Naveed Mohmand said protesters decided to take to the streets after giving a two-day ultimatum to the provincial government to improve conditions at the facility.

Cycle of neglect

A tehsil council member from Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl, who was also at the protest, said polio vaccine facilities are available at the hospital.

“It has become difficult to store the vaccines as there is no electricity in the hospital,” he said. “Pesco provides uninterrupted power supply to marble industries in the area. However, the needs of the hospital have been ignored.”

He added, “We have repeatedly requested the XEN office to provide electricity to the hospital from the industrial feeder, but to no avail. We can’t even get X-rays done and access other basic clinical facilities.”

According to the JUI-F member, there are eight district specialists who receive salaries from the hospital’s fund but work at other hospitals.

“Class-IV officials are also not on duty in the hospital, just like the doctors,” he said. “And to add to our misery, the health officials have ignored this problem despite repeated requests to look into the matter.”

Assurances

However, Dr Hassan, the hospital’s in charge, told protesters the administration has informed relevant authorities about the matter. “We are trying to provide the best health services in the resources available to us,” he said. “We have repeatedly contacted Pesco to resolve the power woes. However, we have not been successful in reaping any results.”

Ultimatum

Later, the protesters said the K-P government has 36 hours to resolve the issues at the hospital or they will be forced to shut down the hospital.

“We do not need a building that has no health facilities,” a protester told The Express Tribune.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 2^nd, 2016.