LARKANA: The stakeholders concerned have decided to depute women police commandos at Shaikh Zayed Hospital for Women to effectively check entry of intruders on the premises and providing security cover to lady doctors during duty hours at the hospital.

The decision was taken in the aftermath of an incident of taking photographs of a lady, Dr (F), by the attendant of a patient, which triggered a protest on Wednesday.

Women doctors, including head of the department of gynaecology and obstetrics of the hospital Prof Rafia Baloch, gathered in the seminar room where CMCH Additional Medical Superintendent Dr Insaf Magsi, and local PMA president Dr Shahbaig Chandio and general secretary Dr Ikram Tunio arrived to resolve the issue.

After the incident, Larkana SSP Nisar Ahmed Channa held a marathon meeting with CMC Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr Safiullah Abbasi, Pakistan Medical Association (PMA) Larkana chapter general secretary Dr Ikram Tunio, Shaheed Mohtrma Benazir Bhutto Medical University (SMBBMU) deputy registrar and PMA Larkana vice chairperson Prof Dr Shahida Shaikh and discussed the overall security situation at the women hospital.

Briefing the SSP, the MS said doctors were vulnerable to wrath of the attendants of patients at the casualty unit and in the hospital. “We urgently need security, at least at both points,” the MS said while narrating the past stories of incidents.

Sometimes male attendants of female patients forced into the labour room, which was quite annoying for both patients and lady doctors on duty, he said. The female doctors on duty at the hospital felt themselves insecure especially during night duties, which required deployment of police and establishment of a permanent picket to check outsiders’ entry to the women hospital, the MS said.

Initially the patient’s attendant (B) who had taken photograph was picked up, but later on, he was released after a warning.

The SSP has agreed to providing full security cover to doctors at the casualty department and the women hospital.

But he also asked the hospital management to hire private security guards to further strengthen their security.

Published in Dawn, October 2nd, 2014