LARKANA:The District Health Officer (DHO), Jacobabad, Dr. Abdul Ghaffar Rind, has relinquished the charge of his post after deputy commissioner misbehaved with him in a meeting held at later’s office about the upcoming polio campaign to be launched on 7th. Dr. Rind confirmed this while talking to this Scribe on Friday and called himself as ex-DHO and said that he has sent a letter to the Director General, Health Services, Sindh, Hyderabad, stating there in that “DC Jacobabad Dr. Hafeez Ahmed Siyal misbehaved with him by using filthy language before complete forum during meeting of upcoming polio SIAs SNID June 2021 which consisted upon the representatives of Health, Revenue, Education, WHO, Police etc”.
Therefore, he further wrote, “in this critical condition created by the DC undersigned, I am unable to continue my services under the administrative control of Dr. Hafeez Ahmed Siyal and relinquish the charge of DDO of DHO demonstratively in the afternoon of 3th june, 2021”. Dr. Rind said that he is also president of the Pakistan Medical Association, Jacobabad, which has decided to boycott polio and other duties with effect from today and all healthcare facilities remained shut today across the district adding their protest shall continue till the DC is removed from the post. He said he has informed the health secretary and DG Health about the prevailing situation telephonically. He said even vaccination centres did not administer any COVID-19 preventive vaccine today and all remained non-functional under protest.
He said the DC himself loudly said in the meeting that he also removed DHO Kashmore when Siyal was posted there hence you don’t deserve respect. When asked what infuriated the DC, he replied that after briefing on polio DC asked about preparation of the master plan for EPI. He said I told him that it will be ready within a week and has been delayed owing to the removal of some vaccinators under court orders. He said soon after my words he started unparliamentary language which does not suit an officer of the rank of a DC. He said he is in BPS-19 and DC is in BPS-18 but he had no respect for senior doctors. He said their protest will continue till DC is transferred out of Jacobabad until then the healthcare system will also remain paralysed in the district.