June 07, 2013
MULTAN
As part of flood fighting plan, the Rescue 1122 is going to train 3,000 flood volunteers besides buying 200 life jackets well before the upcoming monsoon. This was disclosed during a meeting of District Emergency Board (DEB) held to review arrangements for floods here on Thursday. The meeting was chaired by District Coordination Officer Syed Gulzar Shah. It was told during the meeting that the Rescue 1122 would conduct flood rescue exercise on June 17 while final flood plan would be tested on June 14 and all departments would participate in these drills.
Addressing the meeting, the DCO asked all departments to evolve a flood emergency plan and identify the duties of different departments in it. He asked the concerned officials to figure out that at which water level they would need a breach at Head Muhammadwala. He said that the people living in katcha area near Head Muhammadwala should be asked to move to safer places, asking Livestock Department to expedite animal vaccination in these areas. He also directed the Health Department to set up medical camps in katcha area and arrange snake bite vaccine.
He ordered WASA officials to prepare a list of low-lying areas of Multan and prepare a plan for the disposal of water from these areas. He warned that negligence would not be tolerated whatsoever. He also issued order for the survey of katchi abadis.
Meanwhile, addressing a meeting of NGO representatives, the DCO said that civil society organizations played key role in the development of any society. He said that the district government needed cooperation from NGOs for the monitoring of development projects and performance of different departments as it could boost transparency and progress. He told the NGO representatives that a sanitation plan was launched in Multan and each NGO could adopt a union council, village or colony to turn it a model area. He assured the NGOs that if they accepted this proposal they would be extended all out support.
He pointed out that the NGOs lost their credibility because of lack of transparency, asking them to get them registered under law and show their budgets so that fund could be given to them. He told the meeting that each polio team would also have an NGO representative as a part of government’s initiative to take NGOs onboard in state activities. He added that the NGOs would further be motivated to participate in rescue operations in case of any catastrophe and a training programme would soon be launched.
ALTRUISM: At least 60 new beds have been added to the Emergency Ward of Nishtar Hospital besides other facilities with the financial assistance from philanthropists. According to details, dozens of stretchers and wheel chairs have also been supplied to the ward besides new beds in a bid to make up shortage of these articles. The ward administration has opened the main entrance of the ward after the addition of 60 while the route currently being used is shut down. Previously, the main gate of the ward was closed. Nishtar administration said that the motive behind opening main door was to ensure quick shifting of the patients to the ward.
The patients were faced with severe hardships because of shortage of beds, wheel chairs and stretchers in emergency ward of Nishtar Hospital and it is hoped that the new steps will facilitate them.
However, on the other hand the plan make second floor of emergency ward is postponed because of shortage of doctors and paramedical staff. Nishtar sources said that 20 new beds would be added to the ward once Nishtar Board of Management approved recruitment of required staff.
No comments:
Post a Comment