Residents suffer as quake-hit hospital in Oghi yet to be rebuilt

MANSEHRA: The residents of Oghi tehsil are without adequate healthcare services as the historic Tehsil Headquarters Hospital, which was grounded after developing dangerous cracks in the 2005 devastating earthquake, has yet to be rebuilt.

“The government performed the groundbreaking of this health facility about seven years ago, but its reconstruction couldn’t be completed as yet due to a shortage of funds,” Javed Sikandar, a local peasant councilor, told reporters in Oghi.

Flanked by a group of locals, he said that the hospital built in 1901 had developed dangerous cracks during the earthquake almost 19 years ago and its reconstruction work was suspended for some two years ago due to a shortage of funds and has not been resumed since.

“An alternative health facility is running nearby but is unable to meet the healthcare needs of the locals, resulting in patients being shifted to quacks,” Sikandar said.He added that children and women were the worst affected by this situation and were compelled to seek treatment at King Abdullah Teaching Hospital in Mansehra or Ayub Medical Complex in Abbottabad.

“We have raised this issue with the health department’s higher-ups and local lawmakers numerous times but to no avail,” he added. He demanded the Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur and local MPA Akramullah Ghazi to take notice of the grim situation and ensure the early release of funds so the hospital could be completed.

Meanwhile, Assistant Commissioner Oghi Fahad Zia and Deputy Superintendent of Police Waheed Khan raided private clinics and hospitals to arrest quacks allegedly involved in performing surgeries and providing medicines. “We have taken this action following complaints that quacks and unqualified individuals are involved in surgeries and treating patients,” Zia said.