Development projects: Sindh govt to open 30 trauma centres by September 2019

Up to 72 schemes were reviewed including comprehensive schools, EMS and DHQ hospitals

KARACHI: Officials of the provincial health department informed the chief minister (CM) on Monday that they would complete and hand over around 30 trauma centres being constructed in various districts of the province by September 2019. This was stated during a meeting on development schemes at the CM House on Monday.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah expressed concern over the slow pace of development work. The CM directed the officials to complete the health and education schemes within the stipulated time. "I will take taken action against the project directors, if they fail to achieve targets," he said. The Health Department Secretary Dr Usman Chachar, giving the final deadline for trauma centres to deal with accident and emergencies at the district and taluka level said, "Work on around 41 trauma centres is ongoing and we will complete around 30 trauma centres equipped with the latest technology by September next year."

The areas where trauma centres would be made functional are Sujawal, Mirpur Bathoro, Golarchi, Matli, Digri, Kot Ghulam Mohammad, Tando Jam, Sakrand, Bhit Shah, Hala, Kandiaro, Moro, Mehrabpur, Ratodero, Shahdadkot, Garhi Khero, Lakhi Ghulam Shah, Ghotki, Daharki, Ubauro, Pano Aqil, Warrah, Qazi Ahmed, Tando Bago, Kashmore, Johi, KN Shah, Tando Adam, Sinjhoro and Rohri.

The CM directed the Planning and Development (P&D) Chairperson Mohammad Waseem to take the works secretary with him and visit each unit and compile a report on their progress and quality of work within 15 days.

Sources privy to the development told The Express Tribune that the decision to finalise health and education schemes was made when Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairperson Bilawal Bhutto Zardari took notice of media reports about delay tacts being adopted in the development works.

The progress of around 73 development schemes was reviewed in the meeting. These schemes, according to the Sindh government officials, have been delayed for different reasons. The progress on Dadu District Headquarter (DHQ) Hospital, 15 comprehensive schools, 16 English Medium Schools (EMS) and 41 emergency and trauma centres was also reviewed.

The P&D chairman informed the CM that seven taluka (THQ) and DHQ hospitals have been accommodated in the Annual Development Programme 2018-19 with an allocation of Rs18.2 billion, against which Rs9.6b have been utilised in the current financial year.

The meeting was also briefed about the funds for taluka and district hospitals. According to officials, Rs1.6b had been allocated for the expansion of Mithi DHQ hospital.

The government also plans to upgrade taluka hospitals to the level of DHQ hospitals in Tando Mohammad Khan, Badin and Tando Allahyar at a cost of Rs1.7b.

The health secretary informed the CM that eight DHQs of TM Khan, Tando Allahyar, Kotri, Shikarpur, Sanghar, Mirpur Mathelo and Naushahro Feroze would be made functional by December 30, 2018.

He added that five DHQs of Mirpurkhas, Dadu, Matiari, Umerkot and Kamber would be made functional by June 30, 2019.

English Medium School (EMS)

The Education Department Secretary Qazi Shahid Parvez informed the chief minister that 16 EMS were being constructed in as many districts at a cost of Rs4.7b. Out of the16, 15 schools are ready to be made operational while the school in Hyderabad is yet to be completed. In package-A, three schools were constructed in Nawabshah, Sukkur and Larkana. Due to some quality control issues at Larkana, the engineer was warned and the issues were rectified. In package-B, four schools in Thatta, Badin, Kotri and Sujawal were constructed and their work was found to be satisfactory, according to the P&D chairman.

In package-C, four schools in Ghotki, Khairpur, Naushahro Feroze and Sanghar were constructed - out of them, two have been inspected by the monitoring committee and the remaining two, Sanghar and Naushahro Feroze are yet to be inspected.

The CM issued directives for the inspection of the buildings and sought a report within 15 days.

In package-D, five schools in Hyderabad, TM Khan, Mirpurkhas, Tando Allahyar and Hala were to be built and are yet to be inspected.

Comprehensive School

The education secretary said that the construction of 15 schools at a cost of Rs5.7b was in progress. These schools are being constructed in Thatta, Bathoro, Golarchi, Hyderabad, Matiari, Kotri, Umerkot, Tando Allahyar, Mirpurkhas, Ubauro, Shahdadkot, Kahirpur, Dadu, Sanghar and Nawabshah. He said that out of 15, six schools were completed while work on others was under way.

The CM directed the P&D chairman to visit the schools and report to him about their quality and pace of work. "I cannot compromise on the quality of work and soon I'll personally visit the health and educational facilities in different districts," he said.

The meeting was attended by Health Minister Dr Azra Pechuho, Education Minister Syed Sardar Shah, P&D chairperson, Principal Secretary to CM Sajid Jamal Abro, health secretary, education secretary, works secretary and others.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 4^th, 2018.