Excelsior Correspondent
Srinagar, Aug 4: The residents of Wanigam Payeen in Pattan block in North Kashmir’s Baramulla district are aghast over the lack of basic healthcare facilities at a Primary Health Centre (PHC) situated in the area.
The locals said that the PHC lacks the basic staff and the facilities, and in case of any emergency, people are forced to travel longer distances.
“During the day, a nursing orderly and few pharmacists remain present at the PHC and even before 4 pm, they lock the healthcare facility, leaving the people of the area to fend for themselves,” said Habib Ullah Reshi, a resident.
He said that a doctor who has been posted to the PHC is hardly available and comes and goes at his own will.
“The doctor comes at a time; stays for a while and then leaves at will; there is nobody to question them and nobody to hold them accountable,” the residents said.
They said that if there arises any medical emergency during the night, they have to travel for want of medical help and at times it gets really difficult to travel given the nature of the emergency.
“Not a single official is taking a note of our issues and do not appear to be bothered about providing quality medical care to the people of the village,” the locals added.
The residents demanded that the PHC should remain functional round the clock and that the Health Department must depute additional staff so that people do not have to travel for want of medical care during the night.
They added that they have time and again brought the issue to the notice of the health officials in the district, “but every time, we have got nothing but assurances,” the residents said while demanding immediate action from the concerned department.
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