Muharram preparations: All KMC hospitals, healthcare institutions put on high alert

Medical staff will not be allowed to go on leave until after Ashura.

KARACHI: All Karachi Metropolitan Corporation (KMC) hospitals and healthcare institutions run by its medical and health services department will stay on high alert with immediate effect till Ashura (Muharram 10).

A notification was issued by the senior director of the medical and health service department. Consequently, medical superintendents, medical in-charges and doctors of all the hospitals and health institutions of the KMC had been advised to exercise precautionary measures, including the availability of medicines and presence of medical staff and other necessary equipment to deal with any untoward situation or emergency during Muharram.



They have been advised that leave of officials, including medical superintendents, medical in-charges, doctors, nursing and paramedical staff at the hospitals and health institutions of the KMC should not be entertained till Ashura.

A central control room with arrangements for ambulances has been established at the polyclinic on the ground floor of Civic Centre till Ashura.

Meanwhile, a letter has been issued by the KMC metropolitan commissioner, Samiuddin Siddiqui, to the relevant officials to facilitate the Muharram processions and ensure that basic facilities are provided to the citizens of Karachi during Muharram. These facilities include filling potholes, repairs and maintenance of roads on main Muharram routes from Numaish Chowrangi to Hussainia Iranian Imambargah.  The orders also include ensuring proper lighting, cleanliness, and removal of debris, maintenance of sewerage lines and availability of drinking water on the routes of processions.



The local taxes department has been directed to clean all provocative wallchalkings and remove such banners from the route of processions and the director municipal services department was directed to ensure the availability of the urban search and rescue team and the fire brigade staff at designated places in addition to ensuring fumigation drive around major Imambarghas and routes of processions.

Published in The Express Tribune, November 5^th,2013.