Health Zhob
Introduction
|
Health Services in Public Sector 1995 |
||||||
|
|
No. of Beds |
No. of Units |
||||
|
DHQ Hospital |
64 |
2 |
||||
|
Dispensaries |
|
26 |
||||
|
RHCs |
24 |
2 |
||||
|
BHUs |
|
15 |
||||
|
MCH Centres |
|
4 |
||||
|
School Health |
|
1 |
||||
|
Total |
88 |
50 |
||||
|
Unit/population ratio |
|
|
||||
|
Source: |
||||||
|
|
||||||
|
Staff |
Sanctioned |
Filled |
||||
|
|
(M) |
(F) |
(M) |
(F) |
||
|
Medical Officers |
67 |
6 |
37 |
4 |
||
|
Nurses/LHV |
48 |
16 |
46 |
14 |
||
|
Para-medical |
108 |
17 |
101 |
13 |
||
Health System
The population of the district largely depends on the government run hospital, dispensaries, RHC/BHU etc. for free medical service. The medical resources in the district are inadequate for the rural areas. There is only one hospital at Zhob city. The other two sub-divisions have a RHC with 34 beds capacity. The hospital has limited lab, X-ray, and other examination facilities. The hospital has vacancies for specialists, which are not filled because many specialist are not willing to work in rural areas like Zhob district. The hospital capacity cannot meet the demand for health care in the district.
The district has a small number of private practitioners serving in Zhob and other small towns. They charge reasonable prices. Complicated cases are referred to the Combined Military Hospital (CMH) at Zhob which has better medical facilities and a proper team of specialists. Civilians have restricted access to the military hospital, but many of the hospital specialist have a private practice for civilians in the evenings.
Major Disease Incidence
The major diseases in the district are diarrhoea, typhoid, gastro-enteritis, malaria, tuberculosis and hepatitis. Skin diseases are also common. The major factors accountable for incidence of these diseases are illiteracy and poor family hygienic conditions. The lack of literacy among women has adverse effects on family hygiene, nutrition, health, family size and education of children. The people are unaware of or less inclined to practice family planning. Diarrhoea leads to a high rate of infant mortality each year. Malaria is very common in the district, even in winter cases of malaria are reported in the hospital. Preventive measures against malaria, hepatitis and diarrhoea are hardly taken.
Cases of gastro-enteritis and hepatitis are a result of the use of contaminated water from the canal, ponds and water tanks.
Malnutrition, especially lack of consumption of dairy products, are a bottleneck for the treatment of tuberculosis patients.
Maternal mortality/fertility rates are high in the district due to lack of preventive health care facilities.
Administration of Health Services
The district health administration comes under the District Health Officer. The DHO office comes under the Director of Health in Loralai. The hospital at Zhob comes under the Medical Superintendent, who is accountable for the functioning of staff at the hospital.
GO/NGO/private, etc. involvement in Health Development
|
Health Facility |
Local Govt. |
Prov. Govt. |
Fed. Govt. |
NGO |
Private |
Internat. Donor |
|
Hospitals |
- |
xxx |
x |
- |
- |
- |
|
Civil Dispensaries |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Mobile Dispensaries |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Basic Health Units |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Rural Health Centre |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
MCH Centre |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
EPI Centre |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
TB Centre |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Family Welfare Clinic |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Family Planning Clinic |
- |
xxx |
x |
- |
- |
- |
|
Private Clinic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Homeopathic Clinic |
- |
- |
- |
- |
x |
- |
|
Hakeem/Local Medical Practitioner |
- |
- |
- |
- |
xxx |
- |
|
VH Posts |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Nurse Training school |
- |
xxx |
- |
- |
- |
- |
|
Chemists |
- |
xx |
- |
- |
xx |
- |
Legend: - no involvement
x minor involvement
xx substantial involvement
xxx major involvement
Conclusion and major Development Issues
The health sector in the district needs development. There is only one hospital in the district which is at Zhob city. Those who can afford to pay for medical care prefer the CMH at Zhob. The two RHCs at Mani Khawa and Murgha Kibzai are below the health standard and fail to meet the needs of the people. The number of Medical Officers is very small. The dispensaries and BHUs are faced with a lack of staff. The rate of diseases common in the area has increased during the past years, because of the growth of the population and inadequate medical services available.
People are inclined to go to a "Hakim" and other traditional healers for common and complicated diseases such as hypertension, tuberculosis, malaria and childlessness and diarrhoea. The Hakims are traditionally educated without any advancement in medicine. There are a few homeopath doctors in the area. In rural areas persons with basic qualifications of dispenser and medical technician run small first aid practices.
Women’s health is a severe problem, as women do not have access to health care facilities. Either their health situation is ignored, or due to social and cultural norms they are not taken to a male doctor. The poor health of mothers affects the health of their children and the rest of the family. More lady doctors, who are regularly available, and other facilities to improve women’s health are needed.
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