PESHAWAR: The federal government is unwilling to assist Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to cope with healthcare issue of displaced people of Federally Administered Tribal Areas, living in Bannu, officials of provincial health department say.

“According to law, Fata is ruled directly by the federal government and it is its prime responsibility to help tribal people. But it (federal government) is reluctant to assist Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government in provision of better healthcare to displaced population of Fata,” they said.

Officials said that about one million people were displaced by military operation in North Waziristan Agency. “Legally speaking it is not our responsibility to provide healthcare facilities to displaced population but we are doing it on humanitarian grounds,” high-ranking officials of health department told Dawn.

The situation with regard to displaced persons’ healthcare was going from bad to worse but the federal government didn’t realise the severity of the situation despite repeated requests, they alleged.

Provincial minister says the federal govt is responsible to help tribal people as Fata falls in its jurisdiction

According to latest report of World Health Organisation, of the total consultations in Bannu hospitals, more than 52 per cent patients had diarrhoea; 47 per cent cough, malaria, fever and cold; 43 per cent skin infections and 19 per cent of the patients presented symptoms of hepatitis, hypertension, tuberculosis and diabetes.

The world health agency urged the government to strengthen the reproductive health services at Women and Children hospital in Bannu, officials said. It sought the services of more lady doctors, nurses, lady health visitors, paramedics as well as medical supplies, they said.

“The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa health department has been trying to strengthen its health facilities not only in Bannu district but also in Dera Ismail Khan, Tank and Lakki Marwat to ensure healthcare to a desired level,” officials said.

“The problem is exacerbated by the massive workload which requires immediate assistance,” they added.

Officials said that they had vast experience of dealing with the outbreak of diseases that occurred in aftermath of calamities like Malakand operation in 2009, which uprooted 2.5 million people, or earthquake of 2005, which killed 73,000 and injured another 80,000 persons.

“In the light of experience of coping with calamities, the health department is fully prepared to avoid health complications among displaced persons,” they said.

According to officials, they require human resources, medicines and lead role in healthcare activities. “It will also give us an idea about quantum of diseases and duplication of activities will be avoided. The centre should provide funds to the provincial government to strengthen the facilities in areas where displaced people seek treatment,” they said.

Provincial Minister for health Shahram Tarakai is also unhappy with the centre. “Constitutionally as well as administratively, Fata comes under the jurisdiction of federal government. Therefore, it is the centre’s responsibility to come forward to help tribal people,” he said.

The minister said that they provided all-out support to the affected people but the task was too big for the province. “We are helping them.

We have allocated Rs100 million for equipment and medical supplies to stem the tide of outbreak of diseases, which happens in such scenarios where people lack access to basic amenities like water, sanitation and clean food,” he said.

Mr Tarakai said that without the full-fledged support of centre, they couldn’t provide treatment to about one million people, residing in Bannu. The centre must come into action to ensure the people get treatment to a desired level, he said.

Published in Dawn, July 24th, 2014