DHOs told to shape up or pack up

KARACHI:

Health authorities have issued warnings to at least nine district health officers (DHOs) in Sindh, telling them to improve their performance or face dismissal.

According to warning letters available with The Express Tribune, the DHOS in Dadu, Badin, Matiari, Tando Muhammad Khan, Tharparkar, Umerkot, Jacobabad, Kashmore-Kandhkot and Shaheed Benazirabad have been given a last chance to improve their performance immediately.

"Final show-cause notices have been issued to them and they will be removed from their posts if they fail to improve," Sindh health department spokesperson Meeran Yousuf confirmed to The Express Tribune on Thursday.

Earlier, questions were raised about the performance of 24 DHOs in the province during the pandemic, but nine among them continued to put up a poor show despite repeated warnings, according to health department officials.

According to Yousuf, Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho has been displeased with these officers' performance.

Elaborating on the officers' delinquency, Yousuf pointed out that contact tracing was of great significance in flattening the coronavirus curve but these officials "hardly care." She added that the officers failed to implement pandemic-related instructions particularly in remote areas, where people needed most care.

"It's a pandemic," she exclaimed, stressing the importance of compliance with health guidelines during these time.

The developments were confirmed by Sindh Health Services director general (DG) Dr Irshad Ahmed Memon, who said that the negligent DHOs had repeatedly been directed to follow the health department's instructions.

"Several phone calls were made and letters were written to them," he said. "We all need to work hard [and] this is the time to work as a team," he emphasised.

According to a health department datasheet, some DHOs didn't carry out even a single coronavirus test in their area for a week at a time, and in some districts, just a few samples were collected for testing.

'Political backing'

A senior health department official, who asked not to be named, attributed the DHOs' lax attitude towards their duties to the political nature of their appointments.

"They know they cannot be removed easily [and] even the minister realises that removing or suspending them can create problems," he commented, referring to their "political influence."

Giving the example of one such DHO, an official claimed he was appointed on the recommendation of an MPA. "The MPA would not be happy and complain to the top leadership if the DHO was removed," he remarked.

It has also been reported that, solely relying on the political support they enjoy, some DHOs have started a social media campaign, refusing to abide by Memon's orders.

"They believe the DG is junior to them," another health department official said, on the condition of anonymity.

As per sources in the health department, these DHOs had also attempted to approach the health minister directly, in a bid to circumvent the DG's orders. "If the minister opts to listen to the DHOs instead of the DG, who is their head, it would be discouraging for the latter," yet another health department official, speaking anonymously, reckoned, adding that the DHOs' poor performance had led to a sharp rise in the number of coronavirus cases in remote areas.

Exceptions

But there are some exceptions and not all DHOs are ill-performing.

According to Yousuf, the performance of health officials in Karachi has been above average.

"Some DHOs [in Karachi] continue to work hard despite half their team members testing positive," she said.

Explaining the reason behind the better performance of health officials in the metropolis, a senior health department official said, "It is because the media and authorities keep an eye on the officials' performance in the city, whereas in remote areas, the DHOs enjoy support from politicians."

Published in The Express Tribune, July 3rd, 2020