People of far-flung villages around the most attractive picnic point Hawks Bay are facing health problems, as there is no healthcare facility provided by the government.
Area activists claim that few government-run rural health centres (RHCs) exist at different places of Union Council Gabo Pat, Keamari Town where doctors and paramedical staff has been appointed, but majority of the centres stands abandoned due to unavailability of staff and medicines.
Only three private buses are plying in the area to facilitate the drought-hit residents to link them with the city areas; otherwise, there is no transport arrangement for pick and drop the medical and paramedical staff.
Area doctors believe that acute shortage of fresh water, malnutrition and lack of proper diet are the problems of low-income families as their family size is increasing.
Dr Shafi Patoli, who has been engaged in providing basic health education to the community people in these localities says: "Sugar, hypertension, skin infection, cataract and urine infection, are major diseases in the area. Sugar disease is seen increasing among the womenfolk of this vicinity."
"Excessive intake of betel nuts causes sore throat, mouth ulcer and breast feeding taboos. Besides, polluted, unclean water, are also the causes of diseases," Dr Patoli says.
In this regard, he said, rainy water can be made helpful for the people through preserving it into natural water pools already available in the neighbourhood, but the people due to lacking proper resources could not do so. A natural water reservoir is available in Deh Allah Bano but due to lack of wakefulness people are unable to manage it properly for benefiting themselves.
Khuda Ganj Shad, an area activist said, "I have personally approached town health officer Keamari Town the reply was they do not have enough vehicles to run certain health centers. They use their vehicles only for administering polio drops in the entire area, otherwise the community has been deprived of their right of getting health facilities," he commented.
It seems the villages ranging from five to 15 kilometers are out of government's development plan. There is no maternity home to save expectant mothers. In any emergency the people have to pay a high price for the government's negligence. Residents, due to transport problems, are unable to bring their dear ones to the hospital in time to save their lives.
Mohammed Ramazan, another activist says: "There is no concept of essential vaccination in these remote areas, as there is no facility from the government side. Majority of the women and children go to Mauripur and other places for vaccination.
Government-run rural health centers located at Allah Banu, Mubarak Village, Mauladad Goth have been closed for the last 15 years. Each RHC covered at least 10-18 villages in their neighbourhood.
Rural Health Centre, Haji Ahmed Goth, Deh Lal Bakhr, covering 14 villages scattered from 2-7km is ineffective as doctor and lady health visitors appointed for the centre are unable to come there regularly due to transport problem. According to area people doctor comes once a week.
Town Health Office runs Dispensary in Abdul Rehman Goth, having a population of 7,000 where only one doctor comes daily. There is no maternity home or any other facility to meet any emergency situation, area activists said.
Residents of Lashkri Village, Haji Ahmed, Ramzan Goth, Soomar Goth, Faqir Mohammed Goth, Umerabad, Singhu Goth, Muhib Ali Goth and others said there was nothing in the health centres for the community people.
RHC staffers say that concerned authorities did not pay heed to the basic needs of the rural health centre. There is no drinking water at the health centre hence patients are facing problems. They said it is difficult for them to fetch water for visiting patients. There are only one table and three chairs in each center while there are no electricity, water, stretcher, or extra benches are available for the visiting patients. Besides, there is no proper equipment to diagnose the ailing patients.
Former district council-run health centre exists in Allah Bano, 35 kilometres from the rest of the city. With a beautiful building, RHC Allah Bano remained closed for the past four years without any solid reason. Reportedly, staff was appointed, including a doctor, but they do not come to the centre to perform their duties.
The people of Allah Banu complain that since 1999, none of the government doctors had visited the area. Night blindness is seen common among the drought-hit children.
Urs Bhand, 60, told this scribe that his son and daughter, like other village children, were suffering from night blindness. Most parents keep Vitamin-A capsules at home to provide ordinary relief to their unfortunate children.
UC Gabopat, comprising 104 villages with 80,000 population, is the fundamental part of the metropolitan city but the government functionaries have denied these people of their basic civic facilities.
Unfortunately, once wealthy growers and livestock owners, the people have been forced by persisting drought to join fishing sector for their survival. About 90 percent of the male members of these drought-stricken areas go to open sea for fishing, while women sit idle at home.
Union Council Gabopat has two water tankers to provide water to villages situated at far off areas, which villagers say is insufficient to quench their thirst. According to them 26 villages receive two tankers in 24-hour from the UC, which is insufficient for their requirements. Hence, they have to buy water through private water tankers at Rs 500 each.
Adam Bhand, 47, belonging to Deh Allah Bano, recalls blissful days of his life: "It was a fertile valley. These mountains were the major source of wild fruits and vegetables, but now they have become unproductive due to shortage of rains."
Hawks Bay attracts 20,000 picnickers every weekend and the concerned institutions receive millions of rupees annually, but they do nothing for the community's development around this beautiful picnic point, locals complained.
However, dilapidated health conditions of the villagers residing in the Hawks Bay area speak volumes of government's apathy towards its citizens but question is that who is responsible of this? The people, whose elders took part in the building of this mega city, are deprived of their basic human needs.
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