TAXILA: The condition of the Basic Health Unit (BHU) in Lub Thatoo located on the border of Taxila and Hassanabdal negates the claims being made by the Punjab government about improved cleanliness in the province.

Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif after coming to power has launched a “Saf Suthra Punjab” campaign to improve sanitation across the province. However, one side of the boundary wall of the BHU has already crumbled due to accumulation of rainwater.

The BHU which was established some 30 years ago is in shambles due to apathy and indifferent attitude of the authorities concerned despite the fact that it is located in strategic location and caters to the medical needs of tehsils Taxila, Hassanabdal and Haripur.

According to official sources, the BHU is presently catering to the over 0.1 million population of over 20 villages in three union councils (UCs) of Sultanpur, Lub Thatoo and Pour Miana.

An official of the unit said that many pregnant women who visited the centre for vaccination or clinical check-up face hardship due to the rainwater accumulated at the entrance of the premises. Another staff member revealed that many female patients who come from remote areas returned after being unable to pass through the water accumulated at the entrance point.

“I wanted to vaccinate my newborn baby but could not enter the unit due to the water and requested a male attendant to take the baby in for vaccination”, said a young mother Quratul Ain.

Zeenat Begum, an elderly patient, standing at the main road described the same ordeal as it was a hard task for a senior citizen to pass through the water.

Former UC Nazim Ali Asghar Awan said rainwater also threatens the nearby boundary wall of the school. He added that as new fiscal year had started the building and health departments had not released funds for execution of development projects. “So I am bearing all expenses for the construction of drainage lines for the BHU as well as the school besides construction of a boundary wall for the interest and welfare of the local people.

Responding to a question, he said that work would begin after the monsoon season.

Published in Dawn, August 18th, 2024