Karachi’s suburbs deprived of basic healthcare facilities

Almost all the 42 dispensaries in the District Council’s jurisdiction are non-functional

KARACHI: Almost all the 42 dispensaries in the areas falling under the Karachi District Council have been lying idle for years, depriving the suburban areas of basic health facilities. The district council comprises 36 union councils that represent different suburban areas of Karachi, including Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri, Shah Latif Town, Ghaghar Patak, Gulshan-e-Hadeed, Darsano Chano, Khathor, Memon Goth, Dunba Goth, Manghopir, Mai Ghari and many areas of Kemari Town.

The people living in these areas are faced by multiple challenges such as health, water and sanitation, education and poor road infrastructure. "This year, the district council passed a budget of over Rs2.5 billon. The same amount was allotted last year. No significant development has taken place except for the unveiling of a plague of schemes, the fate of which is not known," said Abdul Latif Rind, a member of the opposition party.

According to officials, the dispensaries were meant to provide treatment to people and while funds were allotted for this purpose, in reality it has made little difference.  "I have personally seen dispensaries in Siddiq Jokhio Goth, Waleed Salar, Aachhar Salar and Darya Khan Johkio Goth that have not been functioning since 2002. It is the same situation with others," said Sami Memon, a local journalist. "Around 70% of Karachi's agriculture and barren land falls in the district council's area, but unfortunately no one has paid attention to resolve the basic issues".



A district council official, requesting anonymity, said that there are a total of two maternity homes in council areas of Manghopir and Razaqabad, but both have been non-functional for years. "Each dispensary comprises three rooms. A doctor and a dispenser are supposed to be posted there," he said, adding that the buildings are either lying vacant or being used as locals see fit. "The same thing happens with the around 100 community centres," he lamented.

The body of the present district council came into being in 2016 following the local bodies elections. Pakistan Peoples Party's (PPP) Salman Murad Baloch, son of former MPA Abdullah Murad Baloch, is the chairperson of the council.

It is similar to Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC), which represents the urban areas of the city. The house of Karachi District Council comprises 56 members, of whom 38 are elected. The rest of the seats are reserved for women, minorities and labourers.  Interestingly, only two members of the house are affiliated with Pakistan Muslim League - Quaid (PML-Q), Rind and Qausar Iqbal Bano, who occupy the opposition benches. The rest occupy the treasury benches.

"In the present budget, around Rs4 million have been allocated for water and sanitation of Malir and its adjoining areas, but not a single penny has been spent," said Yousaf Shah, a member of the treasury benches. He said that 70% of the villages in the district council areas have no drinking water facility and the conditions in Ibrahim Hyderi, Rehri, Dahla Muhalla and many villages of Malir is deplorable. "I am going to the National Accountability Bureau to expose the corruption of our chairman and others," he remarked.



Despite several attempts, the district council chairperson was unavailable for comment. "Sahib is busy with other political activities. You should call him some other day," his secretary informed, when approached.

Sharif Shaikh, a senior official who is a focal person for the administration, admitted that all 42 dispensaries were non-functional, but blamed the provincial government. "We have three doctors, including a chief medical officer who sits in the council office. We have written to the higher authorities for the appointment of doctors. I hope this issue will be resolved soon," he said.

"The crises in Karachi District Council started when it was merged with KMC in 2001. We had a total of 100 dispensaries at the time. The district council was restored in 2016 and I hope that slowly and gradually we will be able to revive its old glory," said Shaikh. Asked about the poor performance over the last two years, he said, "Opposition members are blaming [the chairperson] for a political gimmick, otherwise the chairman is energetic and has done record development in the area."

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th, 2018.