Blood Transfusion Centre needs support from govt, civil society

A state of the art blood transfusion service established in the capital of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) with German assistance is looking for support from the government as well as the civil society for successful and sustained operations.

Housed in a magnificent and purpose-built building on the premises of Abbas Institute of Medical Sciences (AIMS), the AJK Central Blood Transfusion Service (BTS), documented by the German organisations as Regional Blood Centre (RBC) Muzaffarabad – has been mandated to collect blood donations for its use in blood transfusion after proper screening against the transfusion transmissible infections (TTIs).

 “Human blood cannot be manufactured – it can only come from generous blood donors. In a calamity prone region, hospitals are always in need of blood and we have to cater to their needs in our designated area,” said Dr Irum Gilani, RBC’s deputy director and the driving force behind the project.

She said blood donation was a service to humanity and a charity of its own kind due on all healthy members of the society.

According to her, the RBC Muzaffarabad was part of a nation-wide project, envisaging establishment of 10 such centres across the country with assistance from the Federal Republic of Germany through German Financial Cooperation (KfW) and German Technical Cooperation (GIZ).

Of them, the RBC Muzaffarabad was the first one to have been operationalised, mainly because its staff was already in place from an earlier project launched in 2003.

AJK, she recalled, had done legislation for safe blood transfusion for the first time in 2003, making blood screening against 5 TTIs - Hepatitis B and C, Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV), syphilis, and malaria - mandatory.

 “In our centre, blood donation is in safe hands as every unit of donated blood goes through a series of steps and tests,” Dr Gilani said.

She said that the prospective donors were accepted only if they appeared to be in good health and complied with centre’s donor selection criteria.

 Stating that the lower and upper age limit for blood donation was 18 and 65 years, respectively, she dispelled impression that blood donation caused irreparable weakness.

“In fact, the human body replaces donated volume within 24 to 48 hours whereas red blood cells are replenished within 10 to 12 weeks,” she said, adding, blood donors were always able to perform their routine daily activities on that very day.

“All they need is to drink well after donation, refrain from smoking for at least one hour, avoid strenuous physical activity and heavy lifting for the remainder of the day, and drink extra fluids for the next 24 hours.”

She said since her centre possessed latest equipment and trained staff for preparation of the RCC (red cell concentrate), FFP (fresh frozen plasma) and platelets, it had obviated the need of rushing to the bigger cities in despair for this purpose.

“With this facility, three patients can benefit from a single blood donation, because people receiving blood generally need a specific component, rather than whole blood,” she said.

Dr Gilani said though the RBC Muzaffarabad had taken lead in many aspects, service charges at this facility were however still to be fixed.

She said the construction of RBC building, procurement of equipment and technical support were all donor–related activities, and what the AJK government was required to do was to evolve effective strategies for the centre’s sustainability.

Funds allocated for blood safety consumables in the health department revenue budget were a paltry Rs 500,000 for one year, while heads for utility bills and generator’s POL were yet to be created, she said.

She said though AJK Central BTS had been established as a separate entity, in compliance with the 2003 act, service structure and hierarchy was still non-existent.

“We need additional technical and administrative manpower to meet the broadened scope of our centre,” she said.

Tariq Naqash

PM Sharif launches health programme in AJK

Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif launched National Health Programme in Azad

Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) on Thursday, saying it was a mark of distinction for him and his government to see the scheme being implemented in the country.

“National Health Programme is not an instantaneous initiative, but part of the PML-N manifesto and its implementation was under consideration for the past several months. It’s a privilege for me and my government to see that proclamation being fulfilled,” he said at the launching ceremony, held in the auditorium of AJK Medical College.

As many as 82362 people in district Muzaffarabad and 79,400 people in district Kotli would benefit from the programme in the first phase.

Recalling the launch of programme from Islamabad on December 31, the prime minister particularly cited the example of a penurious person selling French fries along an Islamabad artery who had received cardiac treatment under the scheme in a major health facility in the federal capital.

Appreciating the individuals and institutions providing free treatment to people, particularly the penniless ones, he said the programme was a step towards implementation of government’s objective of providing free treatment to people.

“I am very confident about the serviceability of the programme for the underprivileged segments of society,” he said.

While spelling out details of the amount to be spent on the beneficiaries, he said Pakistan was a poor country of 200 million people and he wished it had very deep pockets so that he could arrange free treatment facilities for all unable to afford it.

The prime minister said he always thought about measures to mitigate the sufferings and create opportunities for the downtrodden lot.

“Every government should think on the same lines and it should be the priority of every government,” he said.

He was of the view that though development of communication network, eradication of terrorism and augmentation of energy resources did need attention, but, at the same time, peace should also be brought in the lives of the poor.

“It’s all the more necessary to assuage the problems of the poor so that they don’t have to sell their belongings for treatment,” he said.

Initially the programme was designed for 23 districts, but, he announced, it would soon be extended to the entire country, including the whole of AJK, GB and Federally Administered Tribal Areas.

The prime minister also specifically mentioned his daughter Maryam Nawaz for her “untiring efforts” for the launch of programme along with the others concerned.

He made it clear that there was no politics in the programme and added that the PPP and PML-N were on the same page in this regard.

The prime minister announced on the occasion a donation of two buses and Rs 100 million for students of Medical College.

Earlier, he also distributed health card among a few beneficiaries. 

Prior to the prime minister's speech, AJK President Sardar Mohammad Yaqoob Khan, Prime Minister Chaudhry Abdul Majeed, federal minister of state for national health services Saira Afzal Tarar, AJK health minister Sardar Qamar uz Zaman also spoke.

Apart from them, the stage was shared by Federal Minister for Kashmir affairs and Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) Barjees Tahir, prime minister’s daughter Maryam Nawaz and Leader of the Opposition in AJK Assembly Raja Farooq Haider.

Tariq Naqash

'Neelum valley visitors to enjoy up to par telecom facilities'

Visitors to the breathtakingly beautiful Neelum Valley of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) will no more remain disconnected with the rest of the world this summer, as telecom services in the area have been ameliorated by a state run telecom monopoly.

Col Mohammad Ali Nadeem, AJK Sector Commander of the Special Communications Organisation (SCO), a subsidiary of Pakistan army, told this scribe that the utility had not only improved its fixed line phone and Digital Subscriber Line (DSL) Internet services, but had also upgraded its mobile telephone service (GSM) across the state, particularly the areas popular with the tourists.

While the rest of AJK was thrown open for multinational cellular companies after the 2005 earthquake, Neelum and Leepa valleys in Muzaffarabad division and Haveli district in Poonch division that straddle the heavily militarized Line of Control (LoC) remained an exception apparently because of the alleged security concerns.

Residents of these areas have long raised hue and cry over the ban in the wake of discontentment with SCO’s fixed-line phone service in general and mobile phone facility, namely SCOM, in particular.

Explaining the reason for the lack of communication services in these areas Col Nadeem said the difficult terrain had made it hard to provide better services before

“Even if these areas were also thrown open for the multi-national companies, trust me hardly anyone would have ventured there on account of the difficult terrain and insignificant revenue gains,” he asserted.

Citing shifting of two base transceiver stations (BTS) by a leading cellular company from along the Jhelum valley road allegedly due to low returns, he said: “Quite the contrary, we cannot do that, because we are not here to net profits but to serve the public.”

To substantiate his claim, he said each of the at least 35 out of 90 DSL BTS installed by SCO were generating hardly Rs 2000 against a maintenance cost of Rs 11000 per day but those were not closed or shifted elsewhere.

“Whatever the whether, our men are always on their toes for the upkeep of network and that has no parallel in other organisations,” he said.

Coming back to Neelum valley, Col Nadeem said 11 DSL BTS had already been installed and another 4 were in the process of installation there to boost the services.

The valley has been witnessing an unprecedented tourist boom particularly in summers due to the truce along the LoC and improvement of road network between Muzaffarabad and Athmuqam, a few years ago. Recently the federal government has announced to upgrade road network from Athmuqam to the last awe-inspiring resort – namely Taobutt.

However, until two years ago the tourists were experiencing almost a complete communication blackout, delinking them from their families and friends in downstream areas. 

“Now not only mobile phone services have been extended to Kel, in the upper belt of the valley, but DSL facilities have also been made available in almost all towns along the tourist routes,” Col Nadeem said.  

The utility had also introduced tourist SIM cards in Neelum valley to facilitate the nature lovers, he added.

Of the less visited Leepa valley, he said SCO had launched DSL and mobile phone services there as well, though on a limited scale in the beginning.

Tariq Naqash

At long last, AJK gets a Chief Election Commissioner

AJK SC CJ (left) administers oath to CEC

Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) High Court Chief Justice Ghulam Mustafa Mughal took oath on Friday as the AJK Chief Election Commissioner (CEC), putting an end to a protracted controversy as well as uncertainties linked with this constitutional office vacant since April last year.   

The new CEC, who was administered oath by AJK Supreme Court Chief Justice Muhammad Azam Khan, faces a daunting task of making foolproof electoral arrangements, including preparation of flawless voters lists, within a short span of time, as the sitting Assembly completes its five year term on July 24.

According to Section 22 (4) of the AJK’s Interim Constitution Act 1974, general elections to the Legislative Assembly are required to be held within a period of 60 days immediately preceding the day on which the term of the Assembly is due to expire… and the result of the election shall be declared not later than fourteen days before that day.

In view of the said section, experts say, general elections can be conducted at any day between May 24 and July 10.

 “Yes indeed there is very little time (left) to elections and I have accepted this position as a challenge, in the national interest,” Justice Mughal told reporters at the swearing-in ceremony.

When his attention was drawn towards objections to the existing electoral rolls and opposition parties’ demand for fresh computerised lists, he said: “We have to take decision on this issue that how to make these lists up-to-date. There won’t be any problem in AJK but it definitely is a real issue in the constituencies located in Pakistan.”

It may be recalled that 29 out of the 41 constituencies of AJK Assembly are located within the AJK territory, and the rest in the four provinces of Pakistan. Six of those are reserved for the refugees from India-held Kashmir Valley and as many for the refugees from India-held Jammu and ‘others.’

To a question, the CEC said he would soon summon a meeting of political parties to devise a code of conduct.

“Whosoever violates it will be disqualified,” he warned.  

The appointment of Mr Mughal was notified by the AJK government on February 11 in accordance with the advice of the AJK Council tendered on November 16, 2015.

Under Section 50 (1) of the Interim Constitution Act, the AJK CEC is appointed by the AJK President on the advice of the AJK Council, headed by the prime minister of Pakistan.

According to the law department notification, Justice Mughal will hold the office of CEC in addition to his existing duties for a term of three years or till his retirement, if that comes earlier.

It may be recalled here that the appointment of CEC had seen prolonged wrangling between the AJK government and the AJK Council and main opposition PML-N in the courts of law, after the office became vacant in April last year.

On November 16, the AJK Council had given advice for appointment of Justice Mughal as permanent CEC. Instead of following the advice, the AJK government went on to amend the Chief Election Commissioner (Terms and Conditions) Act, 1992 through Ordinance XIX of 2015, wherein Section 6-A was inserted to create room for appointment of acting CEC.

After amending the law, the government appointed Justice Mughal as acting CEC on December 29, 2015. However, he did not take oath of that position.

In the meanwhile, PML-N lawmakers Chaudhry Tariq Farooq and Dr Najeeb Naqi challenged Section 6-A of the Ordinance XIX of 2015 in the High Court and prayed for modification in the December 29 notification to bring it in conformity with Section 50 (1) of the Constitution.

Accepting their petition, the High Court declared section 6-A ultra vires of the Constitution, but did not grant petitioners’ request for appointment of Justice Mughal as permanent CEC in accordance with the Council’s November 16 advice.

Instead, the High Court observed that the President should send a fresh penal of eligible persons to the Council after consultation with the Leader of the House and the Leader of Opposition.

The verdict was challenged in three separate appeals in the AJK Supreme Court, which disposed them off on January 25, and declared in its short order that the November 16 advice is “legal, valid and holds the ground.”

Once again, instead of acting upon the decision, the government amended the Chief Election Commissioner (Terms and Conditions) Act 1992 on January 28, rendering a sitting judge ineligible for appointment as CEC.

It was after that step, the PML-N lawmakers filed an application in the Supreme Court for contempt of court proceedings against the government.

On February 9, the apex court took strong exception to the non-implementation of its judgment, hinting that it could take punitive measures as prima facie the conduct of the government constituted a case for contempt of court proceedings.

The court also summoned law minister, chief secretary and law secretary to make personal appearance before it.

Sensing the mood the Supreme Court, the government presented the notification about the appointment of Justice Mughal as CEC before it on Thursday.

However, nevertheless, CJ Mughal was reluctant to take oath until a detailed judgment by the apex court on the issue with particular reference to the amended law.

On Thursday the Supreme Court observed that the amended law (rendering a sitting judge ineligible to be appointed as CEC) was neither in existence on November 16, when the advice was sent by the Council nor on January 25, when this court had declared the advice legal and valid, and declared that a piece of subordinate legislation could not nullify its judgment.

…. Tariq Naqash