Double agony at PIMS: Come rain or sunshine, nowhere to go for attendants
Funds allocated for accommodation were used elsewhere with little to show.
ISLAMABAD:
After coming all the way from Dir last week to get his wife treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS), Ramzan is unable to find shelter for his children. Come rain or sunshine, he spends his days and nights under the sky in the hospital grounds with his two kids and sister.
Even though funds were allocated to construct a building for attendants, there is currently no arrangement in the hospital to provide shelter to families who come from far-flug areas to seek treatment for their loved ones.
“I am forced to stay here as I have no other option. I have no relatives in this city and cannot afford to rent a room in a hotel,” said Ramzan, while talking to The Express Tribune. “I had to bring my one-year-old along with me. My sister looks after the children, while I do the running around,” he added.
His wife, Naseema* is admitted in a surgical ward. Ramzan has to stay here for another two to three weeks as his wife has to undergo another surgery. “When it rains or there is a duststorm, it becomes difficult to stay outside. We look for refuge inside the hospital building but fail to find it,” he said.
One of his sons has suffered from dehydration from spending all his time under the hot sun. “From security point of view as well, this place at night is not secure as thieves prowl around to deprive you of your valuables,” he added.
Shahid, who has travelled from Azad Jammu and Kashmir to seek treatment for his brother, has to spend the night on a bench outside the hospital building. “It is not easy to spend the night under the sky. When it rains, the bench gets wet and in hot weather, mosquitoes buzz around me and don’t let me sleep,” he said. Last week, Shahid was deprived of his cell phone and watch.
The hospital looks like a railway station as entire families are camped in the grounds surrounded by their luggage, which include stoves, mattresses and suitcases.
According to sources, the hospital received funding to establish a separate building for attendants, but the money was utilised for another project.
Pims Spokesperson Waseem Khawaja said some attendants can be accommodated overnight but as they are too many, it is difficult to facilitate them all.
During outpatient department hours, the majority of them stay inside the building, but after dusk, it is difficult to find a space, he added. “We are trying to discourage the culture of platoons of attendants accompanying patients,” Khawaja said.
*Name changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2012.
After coming all the way from Dir last week to get his wife treated at the Pakistan Institute of Medical Science (PIMS), Ramzan is unable to find shelter for his children. Come rain or sunshine, he spends his days and nights under the sky in the hospital grounds with his two kids and sister.
Even though funds were allocated to construct a building for attendants, there is currently no arrangement in the hospital to provide shelter to families who come from far-flug areas to seek treatment for their loved ones.
“I am forced to stay here as I have no other option. I have no relatives in this city and cannot afford to rent a room in a hotel,” said Ramzan, while talking to The Express Tribune. “I had to bring my one-year-old along with me. My sister looks after the children, while I do the running around,” he added.
His wife, Naseema* is admitted in a surgical ward. Ramzan has to stay here for another two to three weeks as his wife has to undergo another surgery. “When it rains or there is a duststorm, it becomes difficult to stay outside. We look for refuge inside the hospital building but fail to find it,” he said.
One of his sons has suffered from dehydration from spending all his time under the hot sun. “From security point of view as well, this place at night is not secure as thieves prowl around to deprive you of your valuables,” he added.
Shahid, who has travelled from Azad Jammu and Kashmir to seek treatment for his brother, has to spend the night on a bench outside the hospital building. “It is not easy to spend the night under the sky. When it rains, the bench gets wet and in hot weather, mosquitoes buzz around me and don’t let me sleep,” he said. Last week, Shahid was deprived of his cell phone and watch.
The hospital looks like a railway station as entire families are camped in the grounds surrounded by their luggage, which include stoves, mattresses and suitcases.
According to sources, the hospital received funding to establish a separate building for attendants, but the money was utilised for another project.
Pims Spokesperson Waseem Khawaja said some attendants can be accommodated overnight but as they are too many, it is difficult to facilitate them all.
During outpatient department hours, the majority of them stay inside the building, but after dusk, it is difficult to find a space, he added. “We are trying to discourage the culture of platoons of attendants accompanying patients,” Khawaja said.
*Name changed to protect identity
Published in The Express Tribune, May 27th, 2012.