Promises but few results’ mark health in 2008

[Guest guest]

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154179

Promises but few results’ mark health in 2008

Sunday, December 28, 2008

By Imtiaz Ali

Karachi

Greater budgetary allocations as compared to past, a lot of apparently sensible

proposals to control dengue fever, hepatitis B and C, action against

unregistered blood banks and counterfeit drugs, and attempts to improve the

performance of public-sector hospitals were some of the hallmarks of the

outgoing year as far as health sector of Sindh is concerned. The year, in the

words of health professionals however, was “full of promises with few results.”

Dengue fever still remains a serious health challenge with the death of five

people in the year along with hundreds of hospitalised patients. With an

increase in the number of suspected dengue fever patients, health experts fear

that another virus may also be endangering citizens. Another noteworthy point

was that dengue fever patients were reported in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Thar,

indicating that the virus is spreading. The government has allocated a portion

of the budget for the purchase of cell separators to provide platelets to

seriously-ill patients and the initiation of an awareness campaign.

Health experts assert that there is still a lack of initiative because dengue

can only be curbed with stern preventive measures particularly street spray,

improved sanitary conditions and the adequate provision of potable water. Lack

of potable water forces residents to store water in open earthenware pots,

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) secretary general Dr Habib Rehman Soomro

said.

Polio cases continued to surface despite more than 80 campaigns, highlighting

the fact that Pakistan is among the three countries in the world where this

crippling disease is still prevalent. Around 109 confirmed polio cases were

reported across the country, out of which 16 belong to Sindh. Amongst these, two

infected children in Karachi died because of health complications.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Sindh Project Director Dr Mazhar

Khamisani, however, has a different perspective. He believes that their efforts

helped to prevent the spread of polio. In the past, a total of 15 polio cases

were reported all over the country, of which 10 belonged to Sindh, he said,

adding that now, 109 confirmed cases were reported in the country, of which only

16 belong to Sindh. This, Dr Khamisani maintains, shows that the government has

been able to control the disease in Sindh.

With the change of national programme manager for the EPI, the focus has shifted

to making routine campaigns more effective. There is also a focus on creating

awareness and persuading people to visit the 3,500 EPI centres in the province

for regular immunisation.

A study conducted in March 2008 by the Pakistan Medical and Research Council

(PMRC) estimated that around 12 million people suffer from hepatitis B and C in

the country. Sindh remains the most affected province. Around 13 percent of the

population of Khaipur, the Sindh chief minister’s home district, suffers from

hepatitis. Meanwhile, a hepatitis control programme has been launched under the

tutelage of the CM. The project costs over two billion rupees. It aims to

initiate proper screening, prevention and treatment of hepatitis. As certain

habits of doctors’ are said to compound the problem, there is a suggestion to

ban the unnecessary use of injections and the re-use of syringes, which are main

cause of the disease.

Sindh Aids Control Programme Head Dr Nasir Jalbani believes that their efforts

have helped reduced HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs). Another focus

was on the prevention of parent-to-child transmission and one centre each was

established at the Qatar Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). The

treatment facility has also shifted to the CHK for the convenience of patients.

Moreover, the launch of an emergency service by the City District Government

Karachi (CDGK), along with the closure of nine unregistered blood banks, health

insurance scheme for the poor, FIA’s crackdown against spurious drugs, increased

allowance and stipend for house jobs and post-graduate doctors, the set up of a

midwifery training institute in Landhi by activist doctors where 60 tutors would

be trained each year were some of the positive things that took place this year

in the field of healthcare.

The CHK’s trauma centre, now called the ‘Benazir accident and emergency centre

and auxiliary services, Karachi’ is, however, reportedly still facing

bottlenecks.

At the start of 2008, there was an outbreak of avian influenza, popularly known

as bird flu, at two poultry farms with one run by the security institution. The

outbreak triggered fears about a possible transmission to humans, compelling

health officials to put the farms workers under observation. The efforts of

health department, the poultry officials and poultry association representatives

were marked by a lack of coordination, which was evident from the fact that

hundreds of birds were culled without following protocol and were buried in a

well in Malir. There was a move to establish ‘bird flu free zones’ but the

project could not materialise because of a financial crisis, Sindh Poultry

Production and Research Director Dr Ali Akbar Soomro said.

Health experts say that political will and bold steps are needed to improve the

healthcare system. They also suggest that the government should reduce their

personals expenditures rather than ending health projects in view of the

financial crunch.

[Guest guest]

http://www.thenews.com.pk/daily_detail.asp?id=154179

Promises but few results’ mark health in 2008

Sunday, December 28, 2008

By Imtiaz Ali

Karachi

Greater budgetary allocations as compared to past, a lot of apparently sensible

proposals to control dengue fever, hepatitis B and C, action against

unregistered blood banks and counterfeit drugs, and attempts to improve the

performance of public-sector hospitals were some of the hallmarks of the

outgoing year as far as health sector of Sindh is concerned. The year, in the

words of health professionals however, was “full of promises with few results.”

Dengue fever still remains a serious health challenge with the death of five

people in the year along with hundreds of hospitalised patients. With an

increase in the number of suspected dengue fever patients, health experts fear

that another virus may also be endangering citizens. Another noteworthy point

was that dengue fever patients were reported in Hyderabad, Mirpurkhas and Thar,

indicating that the virus is spreading. The government has allocated a portion

of the budget for the purchase of cell separators to provide platelets to

seriously-ill patients and the initiation of an awareness campaign.

Health experts assert that there is still a lack of initiative because dengue

can only be curbed with stern preventive measures particularly street spray,

improved sanitary conditions and the adequate provision of potable water. Lack

of potable water forces residents to store water in open earthenware pots,

Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) secretary general Dr Habib Rehman Soomro

said.

Polio cases continued to surface despite more than 80 campaigns, highlighting

the fact that Pakistan is among the three countries in the world where this

crippling disease is still prevalent. Around 109 confirmed polio cases were

reported across the country, out of which 16 belong to Sindh. Amongst these, two

infected children in Karachi died because of health complications.

Expanded Programme on Immunisation (EPI) Sindh Project Director Dr Mazhar

Khamisani, however, has a different perspective. He believes that their efforts

helped to prevent the spread of polio. In the past, a total of 15 polio cases

were reported all over the country, of which 10 belonged to Sindh, he said,

adding that now, 109 confirmed cases were reported in the country, of which only

16 belong to Sindh. This, Dr Khamisani maintains, shows that the government has

been able to control the disease in Sindh.

With the change of national programme manager for the EPI, the focus has shifted

to making routine campaigns more effective. There is also a focus on creating

awareness and persuading people to visit the 3,500 EPI centres in the province

for regular immunisation.

A study conducted in March 2008 by the Pakistan Medical and Research Council

(PMRC) estimated that around 12 million people suffer from hepatitis B and C in

the country. Sindh remains the most affected province. Around 13 percent of the

population of Khaipur, the Sindh chief minister’s home district, suffers from

hepatitis. Meanwhile, a hepatitis control programme has been launched under the

tutelage of the CM. The project costs over two billion rupees. It aims to

initiate proper screening, prevention and treatment of hepatitis. As certain

habits of doctors’ are said to compound the problem, there is a suggestion to

ban the unnecessary use of injections and the re-use of syringes, which are main

cause of the disease.

Sindh Aids Control Programme Head Dr Nasir Jalbani believes that their efforts

have helped reduced HIV/AIDS among injecting drug users (IDUs). Another focus

was on the prevention of parent-to-child transmission and one centre each was

established at the Qatar Hospital and the Civil Hospital Karachi (CHK). The

treatment facility has also shifted to the CHK for the convenience of patients.

Moreover, the launch of an emergency service by the City District Government

Karachi (CDGK), along with the closure of nine unregistered blood banks, health

insurance scheme for the poor, FIA’s crackdown against spurious drugs, increased

allowance and stipend for house jobs and post-graduate doctors, the set up of a

midwifery training institute in Landhi by activist doctors where 60 tutors would

be trained each year were some of the positive things that took place this year

in the field of healthcare.

The CHK’s trauma centre, now called the ‘Benazir accident and emergency centre

and auxiliary services, Karachi’ is, however, reportedly still facing

bottlenecks.

At the start of 2008, there was an outbreak of avian influenza, popularly known

as bird flu, at two poultry farms with one run by the security institution. The

outbreak triggered fears about a possible transmission to humans, compelling

health officials to put the farms workers under observation. The efforts of

health department, the poultry officials and poultry association representatives

were marked by a lack of coordination, which was evident from the fact that

hundreds of birds were culled without following protocol and were buried in a

well in Malir. There was a move to establish ‘bird flu free zones’ but the

project could not materialise because of a financial crisis, Sindh Poultry

Production and Research Director Dr Ali Akbar Soomro said.

Health experts say that political will and bold steps are needed to improve the

healthcare system. They also suggest that the government should reduce their

personals expenditures rather than ending health projects in view of the

financial crunch.