Towards normalcy: Hospital in Khyber Agency opens doors after 7 years

Bara APA says centre will be fully functional in a month

PESHAWAR: After a seven-year hiatus, Tehsil Headquarter Hospital Bara has opened its doors to the public. The health facility, situated in Dogra, was bombed numerous times by militants and has remained closed ever since the law and order situation worsened.

Regular health services, including the emergency department, have resumed normal functioning. Speaking to The Express Tribune,  Agency Surgeon Dr Niaz Muhammad Afridi confirmed the development and said rehabilitation work is still in progress.

“Other facilities will also resume function soon.” He said the centre used to cater to as many as 950,000 locals hailing from seven different tribes. Popularly known as the Dogra Hospital, the centre used to provide emergency, gynecological and surgical facilities in the past.

“After the facility was blown up, the situation was uncertain and people had to migrate to safer places,” he said. “But now that law and order have been restored and people have begun to return to their homes, the political administration and armed forces have extended support to reopen the hospital.”

Bara Assistant Political Agent Nasir Khan said multiple terror attacks had reduced the building to rubble.

“Repair has only been possible due to the support of the FATA Secretariat, SAFRON ministry and the armed forces,” he added. The APAS said the hospital’s former glory will be restored within 30 days.

“Soon it will be fully equipped. Joint efforts are under way,” he said.

According to Radio Pakistan, displaced families belonging to Malik Din Khel tribe of Bara will start returning to their homes on Monday. The federal government is providing rations for six months and a stipend worth Rs35,000 to each family.

Published in The Express Tribune, August 9^th, 2015.