Dependence: ‘NGOs are here to help the government, not replace it’

Health dept took 18 years to take control of BHU.

PESHAWAR:

It took the health department 18 years to take charge of a Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Nowshera District from the works department, officials of an NGO that recently began renovating and repairing the building said on Thursday.

Initiative for Development and Empowerment Axis (IDEA) Executive Director Imadur Rehman said the BHU was constructed in Baba Jee village in Nowshera district some 18 years back, but the health department took charge of the building only recently.

In the meantime, locals stole the doors and windowpanes.

It was lying in ruins when IDEA asked the health department to hand over the facility to them, so that they could fix it up.

However, he noted that though they will repair the building, it is actually the responsibility of the state to maintain the facility and appoint staff, for which taxpayers’ money is allocated.

“NGOs are here to help the government, not to replace it,” he said.

Rehman added, “If the state does not correct this trend, it will ultimately lead to the erosion of its writ.”

He said that such things were causing gaps in services delivery, which was being fulfilled by non-state actors; a process that is bound to increase the trust deficit between the rulers and the ruled.

Rehman said that IDEA was working on education and livelihood programs in conflict-hit areas including Swat and the tribal areas.

IDEA Education Director Zubair Khan said that their organisation has provided science lab equipment to at least 150 high schools in all seven tribal agencies and six Frontier Regions.

Every set of equipment had 172 pieces from beakers to microscopes and the equipment was provided following reports that students’ understanding of science was rudimentary.

He said that 371 middle schools were provided mathematics and science kits in the tribal areas and 810 male and female teachers have also been trained since 2008.

He said that their organisation was also renovating and repairing at least 40 schools in militancy-hit Swat District, besides providing training to teachers of government and private schools.

Zubair said that their organisation was working on reconstruction and providing basic facilities to schools in conflict-hit regions and was also involved in facilitating internally displaced persons returning to Mohmand and Orakzai.



Published in The Express Tribune, June 18th, 2011.