Medical aid: Umerkot’s only dialysis centre slated to close

The centre faces crisis in the wake of a funding cut.

UMERKOT: The only kidney and dialysis centre of in the district, the Faqir Abdullah Mangrio Dialysis Centre which accommodates over 50 patients monthly, is facing a financial crisis and will be closed if the authorities do not take action.

The district administration used to release monthly grants to the centre to accommodate poor patients in remote areas who cannot afford to travel to Karachi for treatment.

The centre began working two years ago. A doctor and three trained technicians from the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation have been provided by the district health department.“There is no budget and no staff for the centre and we have requested officials to resolve the issue so the centre can function without any crisis in future. Our staff is working there,” said the District Health Officer Dr Aziz Kumbhar.

The centre provides treatment to patients from Kunri, Samaro, Khipro, Sanghar, Tharparkar and district Umerkot.

Centre in-charge Dr Anwar Kotrio said that there was enough medicine for the patients. “The stock of medicine is sufficient for the next two months but there is a serious issue of water that should be resolved immediately,” he said.

Kotrio said that over 50 patients visit the centre monthly, but a proper budget and staff could help more patients.

Published in The Express Tribune, January 6^th, 2012.