The Bhit and Baba islands with around 35,000 of total population lack boat-ambulance service to shift patients to inland hospitals in emergency situation. The islands, which are situated south-west off Keamari basin around 2 nautical miles, lack healthcare and emergency facilities, which are now growing discontent among the dwellers.
Hussain - a 49-year old fisherman, who is resident of Bhit, says that patients are taken to hospitals through small boats, which usually a tiresome and risky effort. "There is no ambulance service either from government or private charity to the islands," he said. "Karachi Port Trust had provided boat-ambulances with their official staff to the islands in the past but later it withdrew its facility," said Asif Bhatti of Native Islanders Fishermen Association (NIFA). |