CHITRAL: The residents of Drosh town have demanded shifting of the maternity and child healthcare centre from a rented house back to its own building.
Civil society activist Haji Mohammad Shafa told reporters that established in 1964 the healthcare facility had virtually been non-functional since it was shifted away from its own building three years ago.
He said the centre had been established in the home of a lady health visitor but she had not bothered to instal a signboard to show its location.
He alleged that the centre’s in-charge also ran a private clinic near the tehsil headquarters hospital during the duty hours. He claimed that other employees of the centre were drawing salaries without performing duty.
Mr Shafa blasted the authorities for shifting the health centre from its own building located right at the centre of the Drosh town without any reason, and said the centre remained virtually closed in its new building, thus depriving the people of the two union councils of Drosh of the critical healthcare.
He said the centre in its own building provided effective care to the women during pregnancy and after delivery, while it also carried out normal immunisation of children.
The civil society activist alleged that the officers of the health department were involved in the mismanagement and corrupt practices.–Zahiruddin