Excelsior Correspondent
SRINAGAR, Dec 8: A Public Health Centre (PHC) in Borihallan village of south Kashmir’s Shopian district is defunct for last four months as there is no doctor and paramedical staff.
Locals told Excelsior that from last four months the PHC is completely defunct with only a female sweeper reporting on the duty. The hospital has five posts which include one of a doctor but barring a sweeper no one is coming to Health Centre, they said.
“Even before four months, there was no doctor and an incharge lady was performing duties of a doctor. However, she was transferred to Zainapora and another person was posted at her place. However, he, with political influence, managed to got himself transferred from the PHC to another place,” Ghulam Muhammad, the local Sarpanch, said.
At least 8,000 people of Borihallan and its adjoining areas are dependent on the PHC. Also, the PHC is close to Mughal Road and in that way it holds importance as road accident victims are provided first aid in the Health Centre. The PHC, however, not only is defunct but also no medicines are available there. Ironically, it also lacks first aid facilities and according to local Sarpanch even bandage is not available at the PHC.
The locals said that not a single official was present on the Polio Day to provide polio drops to the children of the village and its adjoining villages. “It was only after Sarpanch approached higher ups that an official was rushed here but he left just after an hour,” they said. Besides being defunct, the building of the PHC is in shambles and lacks space for both patients and attendants.
The Sarpanch of the village said that he wrote several applications to the concerned officials including Deputy Commissioner but no one is paying heed to resuming the operations of the PHC.
Deputy Commissioner Shopian, Bashir Ahmad said he will immediately look into the matter. “I will contact the CMO and find out why the PHC is defunct,” he told Excelsior and assured of quick restoration of the PHC.
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