Health:

Health is a vital social sector. Economic development and social progress are closely linked with the condition of health of the population of a country. Health facilities are essential not only to provide clean and disease free atmosphere to live but also to enhance the efficiency and productivity of population.

Healthy and prosperous people give birth to a dynamic and healthy society. But it needs well-organized and well-established health institutions. The infrastructure of health, therefore, covers the establishment of health institutions like hospitals, rural health centres, basic health units and staffing these units with sufficient number of medical and para medical staff. The position of the health services can make significant contribution to economic growth. ³²

This area is provided with health facilities and government has setup a network of health institutions throughout the district. There is one tehsil headquarter hospital at Hangu, one civil hospital stationed at Thall, one rural health centre at Naryab with 4 beds, two sub health centres one each at Doaba and Torawari and thirteen basic health units located in the villages of,

(1) Sarozai,                 (2) Darsamand, (3) Dallan,                       (4) Togh Srai,           

(5) Meinji Khel (6) Shahoo Khel,          (7) Darband,                   (8) Balyamina,

(9) Shinawari,   (10) Kahi,                   (11) Karbogha,                 (12) Ibrahimzai

(13) Mohammad Khwaja. ³³

The population per hospital/dispensary bed of the Hangu district as on 1^ST January 1998 to 1^st January 2000 is given here under,

 

As on 1-1-1998				As on 1-1-1999			As on 1-1-2000
District	Population	Hospital/ Dispensaries Beds	Population Per Hospital/Disp Beds	Pop	Hosp/ Disp Beds	Pop Per Hosp/Disp Beds	Pop	Hosp/ Disp Beds	Pop per Hosp/ Disp Beds
Hangu	312843	156	2005	323011	156	2071	333509	156	2138

Source: NWFP development statistics, 1999-2000, op.cit.  P-383

As it is clear from the above table, the health institutions and their beds strength are not according to the requirements of the people. No district level hospital exists. Staff is not sufficient and facilities are scarce. There is no hospital for females and health facilities for them are lacking. The paucity of female practitioners or doctors has an adverse impact on the health care for district females.

Animal Husbandry:

Animals play a vital role in boosting family income particularly when time is difficult and tough and harvest is poor. The people of this area have all kinds of animals. Sheep and goats appear to comprise the majority of livestock in the district. They are reared for meat consumption by the owners and are generally not sold for commercial purposes. They graze on wild grass in summer while in winter some grass is stored for fodder purposes. They also feed on maize and wheat stalks. Cows and buffaloes are also kept but in small number. They are kept mostly for milk consumption. Mules and donkeys are used for carrying goods and firewood from jungles (forests). Besides, poultry are kept in homes for eggs production and sometimes eggs, chickens and milk are sold within the local community and sometimes in the Hangu bazaar. Unfortunately, no fresh and latest data of livestock is available. Therefore, we must consult the census report 1998 of the district, which is noted below:

Types and number of various animals

In district Hangu 1998-99

                            Source: District census report, 1998, op.cit. P.10

Eleven veterinary facilities are located in the Hangu district including two civil veterinary hospitals positioned in Hangu and Thall, two dispensaries placed in Kahi and Doaba, six veterinary centres sited in places like Darsamand, Balyamina, Karbogha, Naryab, Chapri waziran and Togh Sarai and one A.I centre in Hangu.³⁴

Animal husbandry can be developed on commercial basis provided the people are made aware of marketing and husbandry techniques. An operation of this scale requires better education and veterinary facilities and an awareness of potential economic gains.