Urgent Request for the Establishment of a Fully Equipped Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Mithi, District Tharparkar
Dr. Muhammad Hashim Bajeer
I am writing to draw attention of the concerned authorities to a critical public health and humanitarian crisis in District Tharparkar, one of the most remote districts in Pakistan. Spanning over 22,000 square kilometers with a rural population exceeding 1.5 million, the district faces severe challenges, including widespread poverty and a low literacy rate of 18.36%.
For decades, chronic malnutrition has severely impacted the region’s children, leading to life-threatening and disabling health conditions such as Kwashiorkor, Marasmus, meningitis, Hydrocephalus, and notably, Cerebral Palsy (CP). A significant number of children in Tharparkar are living with Cerebral Palsy, leaving them both physically and cognitively disabled without access to adequate care.
Medical evidence clearly demonstrates that managing Cerebral Palsy requires long-term, comprehensive rehabilitation—including physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, and orthotics/prosthetics support. Unfortunately, there is currently not a single pediatric rehabilitation center in the entire district. Due to extreme poverty and a lack of local medical infrastructure, families are unable to travel or afford the specialized care their children urgently need. Consequently, these children face progressive disability that could otherwise be mitigated or managed.
To address this urgent need, I humbly request the authorities’ intervention to establish and equip a comprehensive, fully funded Pediatric Rehabilitation Center in Mithi—the central town of Tharparkar. Mithi offers central accessibility for families across the district. Establishing a center here will provide these vulnerable children with free, quality rehabilitation services on their doorstep, giving them a chance to lead dignified, independent lives.
Read: Tharparkar Needs Urgent Mental Healthcare
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Dr. Muhammad Hashim Bajeer, Physiotherapist, Mithi, District Tharparkar
