Awaran is a district present in the southern centre of Balochistan. It was created as a separate district in November 1992. District Awaran is a part of Kalat division with an area of 29510 sq.k.m.s. About 60% of the population of Awaran are nomads and the main source of livelihood is livestock.
According to the census of 2017, Awaran has a population of 121,680 and before the earthquake, the population estimated was 206,192. Health is a major blessing for human beings. Everyone is in a race to keep themselves healthy by hook or by crook. A healthy person enables an active role in society.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being.
On the 24th of September 2013, a natural disaster (earthquake) hit district Awaran. The earthquake continued up to a year and destroyed the district badly. Many people died and many were injured. The injured ones were shifted to BHQ Uthal and Karachi because the health department of district Awaran was poor and was unable to treat them.
352 deaths were reported in district Awaran according to WHO. The health department of Awaran and district administration were responsible for that. Had there been proper hospitals and good doctors, patients would have been treated and even saved.
Not only this, district Awaran has been deprived of health facilities even after the earthquake. Many pregnant women and unwell persons died due to the negligence of the health department. The situation is still the same. If a snake or scorpion bites a person, they use herbal medicines to protect their lives.
This disaster was a very big lesson for the health department and also for the district administration to reform things but nothing was done.
Many researchers visited district Awaran. After seeing the condition of the district, they prompted the residents to take action against the health issues of district Awaran. People tried but nothing happened.
People are still facing health issues due to lack of facilities like defaulter of doctors, Absentee of paramedical staff, Lady Health Workers Programs (LHW), Traditional Birth Attendant(TBA), Cottage Health Programs, Malaria Control Programs, Medical Social Welfare and many more. The government should provide all the needed facilities to the district.
MUMTAZ ALI
AWARAN
