Locals say ‘We are suffering due to lack of facilities’
KNB News Desk
Pulwama 29 May (KNB): Despite being approved for upgradation into New Type Primary Health Center (NTPHC) by Government in 2018 and establishment being upgraded on ground as well; locals of Chakoora area of Pulwama district ask, ‘Why the Sub-Centre is not still named and facilities enhanced as was promised?’
In 2018, the Government approved hundreds of health care centres in several districts of Jammu and Kashmir for upgradation.
Rupees Twelve Crore Twenty Three Lakh and Twenty Five Thousand under Health System Strengthening were released in favor of Director Health Services of Jammu as well as Kashmir for Upgradation of Sub-centres, CHCs, PHC/NTPHCs coming under National Health Mission.
Chakoora Sub Centre was also among the approved projects but as per locals of the area, the establishment was upgraded but afterwards neither the board of the health centre was changed nor the adequate number of health care workers, medical equipment as required at a NTPHC were assigned.
A resident, who wished not to be named, told news agency Kashmir News Bureau that many Sub Centres in district Pulwama were upgraded in NTPHCs but Chakoora has been left as it was.
He said, “Work at several Sub Centres in Pulwama, such as the ones at Satoora, Aripal, Rathsuna, Shar’Shali as well as the one in our locality Chakoora, was completed during Mid 2020. All of them were upgraded to NTPHCs, facilitated with basic and necessary equipments except the Sub Centre Chakoora.”
“Why not?” he asked, adding that even though the government provided the concerned authority Crores of funds and work was completed on time aswell.
“They have clearly stated it on the Board outside the building that it is a Sub Centre; I want to know Why?” he asked, adding that there is not sufficient staff at the health centre to treat the population dependent on it.
Another resident told KNB that more than 30,000 people are dependent on the Sub Centre Chakoora and most of them are suffering due to lack of facilities.
He said, “More than 30,000 people are dependent on this Sub Centre and obviously everyone of us had high expectations after the upgradation took place. Sufficient staff and atleast an ambulance to make things easy for us will be enough.”
“At times only a board stating ‘Vaccination Duty or Covid Care Duty’ is installed but barely anyone is present there,” he added.
As per the resident, around 10-15 villages are situated in the area and dependent solely on the Sub Centre Chakoora and the nearest ‘PHC Panzgam’ is located at around the distance of 2Km.
Moreover, he said, “NTPHC Aripal was also upgraded during the same time as Sub Centre Chakoora and has been provided an ambulance and even doctors are available there 24/7.”
As per him, some patients have even died on their way to a Hospital in Bijbehara, because the health centres/hospital in the area remain closed during the night.
“Many times, residents of the area had to rush emergency patients to a Hospital in Bijbehara because the health centres/hospitals remain closed here during the night hours,” he said, adding that even some patients breathed their last on their way to the hospital.
Regarding the matter, Deputy Chief Medical Officer (CMO) Pulwama, Dr. Tehmeena told news agency Kashmir News Bureau that She is not completely aware about this matter.
“Even though I am not much aware about the matter but what I can say is that since the time it was upgraded, the Covid situation has emerged and all the attention has been diverted towards the pandemic,” she said.
When informed about the other Sub-Centres that were upgraded into NTPHCs during the same time frame and were provided ambulances as well as staff members were increased, except at the Sub Centre Chakoora, she responded, “I have no idea about it.”
Moreover, talking to Kashmir News Bureau, In Charge Doctor Ruqiya, Sub Centre Chakoora—who has been posted last year as Mid-level Health Provider (MLHP)—said that the number of health care workers appointed at Sub Centre Chakoora are according to the Health and Wellness Centre and not as required at NTPHC.
“The staff, as per the Sub-Centre have two members; Female Multipurpose Health Worker (FMPHW) and Mid Level Healthcare Provider (MLHP), which are present here and if this Centre was upgraded to NTPHC, there would have been atleast 10-14 employees,” she said, adding that the number of staff members available there is according to the Health and Wellness Centre.
Furthermore, she told KNB, “It was inaugurated in October 2020 and afterwards it was also informed that it is a Health and Wellness Centre, so the staff available here will be according to that, but this year the locals have been asking for more staff and it’s upgradation to NTPHC.”
She added that due to the Covid-19 Pandemic everything has been put on hold.
“We have to go for Covid duty and other related surveillances, so all the other things have been withheld,” the doctor said, adding that she has been newly appointed at the Sub Centre as MLHP and not even as a Medical Officer.
“Our posting took place during May last year and I have been doing Covid Duty at District Hospital Pulwama most of the time, hence I’m not much aware about the matter,” Dr. Ruqiya emphasized.
Kashmir News Bureau made several attempts to contact Director Health Services Kashmir regarding the issue but got no response. (KNB)