Locals protest partial revamp of health centre

Say re-roofing on dilapidated walls is insufficient and dangerous

RAWALPINDI:

The Punjab Health Department has started a revamp of the decades-old Rural Health Centre in Qazian, Gujar Khan at a cost of Rs52.2 million. Spanning over 40 marlas, the centre's renovation work recently began, starting with the demolition of the old roofs for replacement.

However, the residents are raising concerns, arguing that the facility's severely deteriorated structure requires much more than superficial repairs. They said that the walls of the facility were broken and they needed to be rebuilt.

Local community members, including prominent figures like Raja Ehsanul Haque, Mirza Zahid Hafeez, Qazi Atiq, and Khalil Ahmed, protested at the health centre, pointing out that the 50-year-old building is crumbling. According to them, re-roofing on cracked and weakened walls is insufficient and even risky. They argued that this "cosmetic" revamping would only waste public funds and put lives in jeopardy. The protesters expressed disappointment, recalling how the Qazi family donated several kanals for the facility, only to see it in a state of disrepair today.

"The roof leaks, but the walls are equally compromised. Installing a new roof over these broken walls could cause a collapse, endangering lives," they stated. They also criticised the contractor's actions, claiming that in the haste to replace the roofs, valuable equipment like the X-ray machine and solar panels were damaged. They alleged that the removal of machinery was ordered only 24 hours before the renovations which led to further damage.

With the health centre closed for renovations, patients are now facing the inconvenience and travelling to different cities for treatments.