France Colony and Katchi abadis’ patients demand re-opening of Kulsoom Diabetic Clinic

ISLAMABAD, May 10: Patients from France Colony and 100 quarter katchi abadis were joined by family and friends under the banner of the Awami Workers Party-Rawapindi/Islamabad in front of Kulsoom Diabetic Clinic in F7/4 on Tuesday afternoon to protest the illegal and unjust closure of a free-trust run treatment centre that has served the needs of hundreds of Islamabad’s working class diabetics, most of whom are residents of katchi abadis in F-7, F-6 and G-7.
The Auqaf Department and Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) closed the clinic on April 27 without notice. Patients dependent on treatment from the clinic with the AWP-Isb/Rwp suspect that the administration wishes to rent out the space to a private clinic to generate income. Hundreds of residents from France Colony as well as from katchi abadis in F-7 and G-7 are unable to afford exorbitant fees at private clinics. Without the free treatment, they are in danger of losing much-needed medical treatment.
Rani Baji, a member of AWP-Rwp/Isb and a resident of France Colony, explains the potential ramifications of the closure for her community. “Where will our mothers, fathers, sisters, brothers, children go now? We cannot afford treatment for diabetes. We already know that the state – in a federal capital – provides no healthcare to the poor. Now it is forcing the handful of free clinics in the city to close shop,” says Rani Baji. AWP-Isb/Rwp minority secretary and fellow resident of F-7, Shabana Robin, agrees. “The closure of the clinic is a reflection of a long-standing policy by Islamabad authorities to serve the wealthy at the expense of the poor,” says Shabana Robin.-PR