The Sindh government has failed to improve state of education despite of imposition of ‘Education Emergency’ in the province, and the dysfunctional Government Girls Elementary School, in Sobdar Sargani village near Mohenjo Daro, for the last eight years is self-evident about the deteriorating condition of institutions, that has put the future of thousands of students at stake. Reportedly, delayed funds’ disbursement, flawed estimates, poor teaching standards, dilapidated buildings, inoperative toilets, tenuous access to power and scores of out-of-school children continue to bedevil education in the province. Meanwhile, hundreds of female students have either abandoned studies or joined private schools. Villagers including Riaz Sargani, Rashid Sargani, Roshan Sargani, Mushtaque Sargani and others told the media on Wednesday that their daughters were unable to continue studies since the school was closed suddenly without any prior notice and alternative institution for them, and they could not afford tuition fee of private schools and transportation expenses. “Hollow slogans and artificial political statements will never improve quality of education, and the Education Emergency is needed to be implemented in its true spirit and essence,” they said. They asserted that they had sent many applications and even met officials of the education department to resolve such issues, but to no avail. Meanwhile, they pleaded with the higher authorities to ensure reopening of the school without any further delay and take a stern action against corrupt officers in the education department. Patients suffer because of defective CT, MRI scanners The Chandka Medical College Hospital (CMCH) in Larkana is the largest medical institution in Northern Sindh, but it lacks even basic essential facilities including medicines, doctors and paramedical staff, attendants, potable water for patients, power backups, hygienic environment and security measures. Reportedly, MRI and CT scan machines have been out-of-order for months, despite of the allocation of huge budgetary funds from the taxpayers’ money. This has caused severe problems for patients who are required to be diagnosed prior to their treatment. The CT scan machine is dysfunctional since last week, whereas the MRI machine is out-of-order since January. An outdated 38-year-old X-ray machine is still being used in the largest teaching block of the hospital with a 300-bed capacity, besides eight obsolete ultrasound machines which are needed to be replaced by Doppler machines on urgent basis. Meanwhile, a component of dysfunctional MRI machine has been imported, and requires customs clearance at the port, but a dispute between the health department and suppliers has delayed the process. Moreover, suppliers are yet to arrange defective components of the CT scan machine, forcing patients to undergo expensive diagnosis at private healthcare centers. A Korean-made X-ray machine of the Paediatric Medicine Department (PMD) is defective for a long time but the administration has taken no concrete steps for its reparation on the pretext that its parts were not available, shifting entire load on another machine. An X-ray Plant installed in the Urology department was purchased in 1996-97. This block is attached to the CMCH for teaching purpose. In April this year, former health secretary Dr Fazalullah Pechuho was informed about the obsolete X-ray machine when he visited the hospital, and consequently he ordered to remove it. However, it is still being used because new machines were not supplied. Furthermore, X-ray room, where this plant has been installed, is in dilapidated condition, and requires renovation and rehabilitation on the priority basis before any untoward incident occurs. CMCH Medical Superintendent Dr Ali Gohar Dahri told the media that the MRI machine worked properly for six months only and was still under warrantee when it went out-of-order. He said that the hospital required new and updated CT scan machines. Published in Daily Times, October 4th 2018.