Sindh Chief Minister Syed Qaim Ali Shah took serious notice of Thar situation and said that his government could not ignore the problems of poor people living in the desert area. “We have to respond quickly and forcefully by further improving health services and enhancing the capacity of RO plants,” he said.
The chief minister said this while presiding over a high-level meeting to review issues of Thar and redress them at the CM House. The meeting was attended by provincial ministers Syed Murad Ali Shah, Jam Mehtab Dahar, Syed Nasir Shah, Jam Khan Shoro, Ali Hassan Hingorjo, Chief Secretary Siddique Memon, Additional Chief Secretary (Dev) Aijaz Ali Khan, Principal Secretary Alamuddin Bullo, Secretary Health Saeed Mangnijo and other concerned officers.
He said his government had given special attention to the development of Thar area. “We have made district hospital Mithi a unique health facility equipped with most modern equipments,” he said. He added that his government had worked a lot for poverty alleviation in Thar but still lot of work had to be done.
Secretary Health Saeed Mangnijo giving report of his recent visit to Thar said that during the last six days 14 new born had died because of pre-mature births but two of them had diarrhea problem. Apart from it, out of 14 children three were from nearby districts, he added.
He said the Mithi hospital had the largest OPD ratio than the district hospitals of Mirpurkhas, Sanghar and Badin because of its best health facilities in the region. The parents usually take their patients/children from nearby districts to Mithi because of best health services. He added that its annual budget was Rs 146 million which falls short because of growing pressure from other districts. On this, the chief minister ordered to increase the budget of Mithi hospital by 100 per cent – Rs 292 million.
The Mirpurkhas commissioner said in his report said that he had visited the entire Thar area. “There is no drought anywhere in the desert. People had cultivated their traditional crops and they have enough food/grain and fodder,” he assured.
He said since the hospitals were located in the district and taluka headquarters, therefore transportation of the patients from far-flung areas took time. “I would suggest providing 4×4 ambulances/vehicles for transporting patients,” he said. The chief minister directed Senior Minister for Finance Syed Murad Ali Shah to arrange necessary funds and provide six (4×4) ambulances to all six taluka hospitals/rural health centre of Tharparkar on immediate basis.
The ministers also assured the chief minister that they would arrange ambulances/vehicles for the hospitals of Thar as soon as possible till the purchase/arrangement of new ambulances.
MPA from Thar Dr Mahesh Malani also attended the meeting as a special invitee. “Neither is there any drought nor lack of health facilities in Thar. The media has exaggeratedly highlighted this issue,” he said. However, he urged the chief minister to establish Thar Development Authority so that it could work as an umbrella organisation to address the issues of missing facilities and development.
He said out of 400 RO plants, 100 were out of order for which the chief minister directed Chief Secretary Mr Siddique Memon to get them repaired at the earliest. “It is the commitment of our leadership to provide clean drinking water to the people of Thar. I want this problem be fixed at the earliest,” he directed the CS.
Dr Mahesh is smart enough. First he says the media is telling a lie. And in turn, has demanded to create another of a Corruption Mint – Thar Development Authority – like KDA or LDA. Last year too many had died due to starvation and diseases and the whole PPP leadership had rushed – for photo session. Why can't be honest with ourselves ?
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